Seasonal Depression Symptoms
Like other types of depression, people suffering from SAD experience sadness or a feeling of sadness in their everyday activities. They may become less interested in their friends and family, sleep more or have trouble waking up, and crave carbohydrates that provide quick energy.
The brain's mood-regulating pathways could be affected by the absence of sunlight during winter and fall. Some sufferers experience mild symptoms, while others suffer from symptoms that are so severe as to cause problems in relationships and at work.
Treatment
The good news is that treatment options are available. Light therapy, psychotherapy, and medication can help sufferers with SAD. They can also make simple adjustments that can ease their symptoms and improve their mood.
SAD can be mild, moderate or severe. It can affect a person's concentration and energy level as well as appetite. Some people suffering from SAD might be more angry and irritable frequently. They may also have difficulty making decisions and concentrating. Some people with SAD have trouble sleeping well which can result in an inability to focus during the daytime. The change of seasons can cause symptoms of SAD. The shorter daylight hours in the fall and winter can affect a person's bio rhythms. Serotonin levels can drop and increase melatonin. This can cause insomnia or cause depression.
People suffering from SAD typically complain of feeling sad or depressed at a certain time of the year. The symptoms typically manifest in winter or the fall and they are more comfortable in spring. In the summer, they may experience episodes where they feel happy or high. SAD sufferers may experience more episodes of depression. SAD can be confused with other mood disorders. It is essential to get a diagnosis from a healthcare professional.
CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is a highly effective treatment option for SAD. CBT is a kind of psychotherapy that helps individuals to challenge and alter unhelpful thoughts. CBT for SAD concentrates on replacing negative thoughts related to the season and replacing them with more positive ones. It also helps people find enjoyable activities to combat the lack of interest that they usually experience in the summer or winter.
It's not clear how effective herbal remedies or supplements can be for SAD. Many herbal remedies and dietary supplements don't have the same level of control as prescription drugs. They can interact with prescription drugs and cause serious problems. Talk to your healthcare provider prior to taking any dietary or herbal supplements.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal depression are much more serious than a few "winter blues." If you are suffering from these mood swings every year, at the same time your GP can help you identify and manage your symptoms. Treatment options include psychotherapy, light therapy and medications.
Winter-pattern SAD is characterized by depressive episodes that occur each year during the winter and fall seasons. These episodes are often accompanied by a lack energy, an increased appetite and a craving for food that is starchy and sleep disturbances, as well as weight increase. These symptoms can lead to feelings of hopelessness, despair and even suicidal thoughts in the most severe cases.
In addition to antidepressants some people with SAD benefit from taking a dopamine-inhibitor like bupropion. This medication helps balance your serotonin levels and dopamine levels to lessen the likelihood of becoming anxious and lethargic. This is a relatively new kind of antidepressant which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be used in treating SAD.
Your doctor will prescribe the right medication for you, according to your symptoms and severity. They will probably recommend that you begin antidepressants in the fall before your symptoms that are seasonal begin each year and continue taking them until spring. Based on the specific symptoms you experience they might also suggest that you use a light box or lamp to simulate sunlight and promote the release of serotonin.
It's important to know that even though many people suffering from SAD feel a lack of vitamin D but there isn't any evidence that this is the cause of their condition. However, making sure your diet is a source of healthy foods and spend sufficient time outside to get exposed to sunlight can aid in reducing.
SAD is a difficult condition to manage and symptoms can last an extended time. It is essential to understand that there are a variety of treatments for this condition. With the assistance of your GP you can get rid of symptoms and return to a normal lifestyle. For more information on seasonal affective disorder and other mental health conditions, visit the Health Matters blog(link opens in a new window) at NewYork-Presbyterian.
Cognitive behavior therapy
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that is seen in winter and fall and improves during spring and summer. It is caused by changes in sunlight exposure and biological clocks, which may cause disturbances in sleep, eating habits and mood. Seasonal depression can be treated with antidepressants, cognitive therapy, and light therapy.
Researchers aren't certain what causes SAD. However, they believe that less sunlight triggers a chemical change in the brain, which leads to depression. People suffering from SAD are more likely to have other mental health issues, including bipolar disorder and major depression. They may also be at risk due to family history, such as someone in the family with depression or schizophrenia.
Serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood, is often less in people who have SAD winter-pattern. The low levels of this chemical can result in problems sleeping and focusing, as well as being sad. People with summer-pattern SAD might have lower melatonin levels, which can impact sleep patterns and increase feelings of depression.
SAD symptoms include sadness, low-energy as well as difficulty concentrating and a loss of enthusiasm for the activities you usually like. In certain instances you may decide to cut off contact with family and friends during the wintery, cold months or shed weight as a way to deal with your negative emotions. You might also start to feel suicidal and this is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.
Talk therapy can help people with SAD overcome depression by changing their negative thinking patterns and behaviors. During sessions, your therapist might ask you questions and encourage you to pay attention to the way you react to difficult situations. Then, you will work together to discover new ways to deal with these situations.
Psychotherapy is most effective when it's specifically tailored to a particular issue such as SAD. One of the most promising treatments for SAD is known as cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. CBT was created by Aaron Beck in the 1960s. depression and symptoms I Am Psychiatry is built on Albert Ellis’ rational emotive behavior therapy. It focuses on transforming destructive patterns of "emotional reasoning” that lead to depression.
Light therapy
With the changing of the seasons, many people feel sluggish and tired, and down. These feelings could be more serious than "winter's blues" and may lead to depression, also referred to as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you suffer from this disorder, simple lifestyle changes can help relieve symptoms and help restore your normal mood.
Research has shown that bright light therapy, also referred to as phototherapy, can help improve symptoms of SAD and other conditions affecting your mood. Utilizing light boxes or specialized full-spectrum light in the early morning can help reduce your symptoms. Light therapy works by increasing the production of serotonin a natural chemical that boosts your mood and helps you stay alert. It also helps prevent the deterioration of your circadian rhythm. This is the internal clock of your body that regulates sleep cycles, and other important functions.
The best results for SAD are achieved through a special device that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, about the same brightness as outside on an uncloudy day in July. Your healthcare provider will recommend that you stand or sit in the front of the device every day for 30 minutes or more, starting in the early morning hours, all week.
If you are suffering from eye strain or headaches or headaches, you can adjust the intensity and distance between the light source and you. It is essential to utilize a light box that blocks harmful ultraviolet rays that could cause damage to your eyes and the skin. You can buy the lightbox from your healthcare provider, or you can find one on the internet. Be sure to ensure that it's medically endorsed to treat SAD.
You should tell your healthcare professional whether you suffer from bipolar disorder or any other mental health issue, as in some individuals, bright light therapy or antidepressants may cause a manic episode. The risk can be minimized by using these treatments with the guidance of a medical professional.