Seasonal Depression Symptoms
Similar to other forms of depression, people with SAD may experience sadness or lack of enjoyment in everyday activities. They may become less interested in their families and friends, fall asleep more or have trouble waking up, and crave carbohydrates that provide quick energy.
The brain's mood-regulating pathways could be affected by the lack of sunlight during winter and fall. Some people experience mild symptoms, whereas others experience symptoms that are serious enough to disrupt relationships and work.
Treatment
The good news is that treatment options are readily available. Psychotherapy, light therapy and medication can help sufferers with SAD. Simple changes can also help relieve symptoms and improve mood.
SAD can be mild or severe. It can affect people's concentration and energy level as well as appetite. Some people suffering from SAD might feel irritable and angry more frequently. They may also have difficulty taking decisions and concentrating. Certain sufferers of SAD suffer from sleep problems, which may cause them to be deficient in energy throughout the daytime. The symptoms of SAD can be triggered by the change in seasons. The shorter hours of daylight during fall and winter may affect a person’s biological rhythms. This can lower serotonin levels and increase melatonin. This could cause depression or increase sleepiness.
People suffering from SAD experience feeling depressed or sad at a particular time of the year. They usually have these symptoms in winter or autumn and are more comfortable in spring. In summer, they might experience episodes where they feel happy or high. People with SAD may have more depression episodes than other people. SAD is often confused with other mood disorders. It's crucial to seek medical advice.
CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is an effective treatment option for SAD. CBT is a type of psychotherapy that teaches individuals how to challenge and change unhelpful thinking. CBT for SAD is focused on changing negative thoughts associated with the season with more helpful ones. It assists people in finding enjoyable activities to offset their lack of interest in the summer or winter.
It's not clear how effective herbal remedies or supplements can be for SAD. Many dietary and herbal supplements aren't regulated the similar way drugs are. They could cause serious problems when they interact with prescription drugs. Talk to your healthcare professional prior to taking any dietary or herbal supplements.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal depression disorder are more serious than just a few "winter blues." symptoms of extreme depression can help diagnose and treat these symptoms when you experience them throughout the year at the same time. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy and medications.
Many people suffering from winter-pattern SAD suffer from depressive episodes that come and go throughout the year in the winter and fall. These episodes can be associated with a lack of energy, an increase in appetite and a preference for starchy foods as well as sleep disturbance and weight increase. These symptoms can trigger feelings of hopelessness, despair and even suicidal thoughts in the most extreme cases.
Some people with SAD might benefit from taking a bupropion, a dopamine inhibitor. This medication helps to regulate the levels of dopamine and serotonin which reduce the feeling of being depressed and irritable. This is a relatively new type of antidepressant that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use to treat SAD.
Your GP will prescribe the best medication for you based on the specific symptoms and severity of illness. They will probably recommend starting antidepressants in the fall, before your seasonal symptoms typically start each year, and continue to take them until spring. They may also suggest that you use a lamp or light box to simulate sunlight, which will encourage serotonin to release.
It is important to remember that even though many people suffering from SAD are suffering from a lack of vitamin D however, there is no evidence of this being the cause of their illness. You can improve your health by consuming an appropriate diet and spending time in the sun.
SAD is a difficult illness 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 overcome the symptoms and resume a normal life. 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
SAD is a form of depression that can be seen in winter and fall seasons and increases during spring and summer. It is caused by changes to sunlight exposure and biological clocks, which may disrupt sleep, eating and mood. Seasonal depression can be treated with antidepressants, cognitive therapy and light therapy.
Researchers aren't sure the cause of SAD. But they think that less sunlight triggers a chemical change in the brain that can lead to depression. SAD patients are more likely than other people to suffer from other mental illnesses, such as major depression or bipolar disorder. They also may be at risk due to family history, for example, a relative who has depression or schizophrenia.
Serotonin, a chemical in the brain that regulates mood, is often lower in people with SAD winter-pattern. The low levels of this chemical could cause problems with sleeping and thinking clearly, as well as feeling sad. Melatonin levels might be lower in those with SAD summer-pattern. This can affect sleep patterns and trigger depression-like feelings.
SAD symptoms include low energy, sadness, difficulty concentrating, and a decrease in enthusiasm for the activities you usually like. You might be unable to connect with family and friends during the winter months, or lose weight to deal with negative emotions. You might also begin to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical issue that requires immediate attention.
Talk therapy can assist SAD sufferers recover from depression by changing unhealthy thought patterns and behavior. In psychotherapy sessions, your therapist will ask questions and encourage you to be aware of how you react in difficult situations. Then, you will work together to develop strategies to handle these situations in a different way.
Psychotherapy is most effective when it is targeted to a specific problem such as SAD. One of the most promising treatments for SAD is called cognitive behavior therapy or CBT. CBT was invented by Aaron Beck in the 1960s. It is built on Albert Ellis’ rational emotive behavior therapy. It focuses on transforming destructive patterns of "emotional reasoning” that lead to depression.
Light therapy
Many people feel tired, sluggish and depressed when the seasons change. These feelings could be more serious than "winter's blues" and can lead to depression, which is also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you are suffering from this condition, a few lifestyle changes can help relieve symptoms and help restore your normal mood.
Bright light therapy, or phototherapy, has been found to help alleviate symptoms of SAD, as well as other conditions that can affect your mood. The early morning use of a light with a full spectrum or box can help reduce symptoms. Light therapy boosts serotonin production, which is a natural chemical that improves your mood. It can also stop a drop in your circadian clock, which is the internal clock in your body that regulates sleep cycles.
The best results for SAD are achieved through a specific device that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, roughly the same brightness as being outside on clear days in July. Your healthcare provider will recommend that you stand or sit in front of the device each day for 30 minutes or more, starting in the early hours of the morning, every day of the week.
You may experience some headaches or eye strain when using the light, but these effects will usually disappear by adjusting the intensity of the light and the distance between you and the light source. It is important to use a light box that filters out the harmful ultraviolet rays which can harm your eyes and skin. You can buy a lightbox from your healthcare provider or find one on the Internet However, be sure it's medically approved for the treatment of SAD.
It is essential to inform your doctor that you suffer from bipolar disorder or any other mental health problem, as in some people treatment with bright light therapy or antidepressants could trigger a manic attack. The risk can be reduced by using these treatments under the supervision of a psychiatrist.