10 Healthy Seasonal Depression Symptoms Habits
Seasonal Depression Symptoms
Like other types of depression, those with SAD may experience sadness or feeling of sadness in their everyday activities. They might lose interest in friends and family, sleep more often or have difficulty getting up, and are in search of carbohydrates which give the body rapid energy.
Less sunlight in fall and winter can alter brain pathways that help regulate mood. Some sufferers have 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 readily available. Psychotherapy, light therapy and medications can aid people with SAD. Simple changes can help relieve symptoms and improve mood.
SAD can be mild, moderate or severe. It can trigger changes in an individual's energy levels, appetite, and concentration. Some people who have SAD may experience irritability or angry more easily. They may also have trouble making decisions and concentrating. Some people with SAD have trouble sleeping well and this can cause a lack of energy throughout the day. The symptoms of SAD can be caused by the change in seasons. The shorter daylight hours in the fall and winter can affect a person's biological rhythms. This can lower serotonin levels and boost the level of melatonin. This can cause insomnia or cause depression.
People suffering from SAD typically report feeling down or sad at a certain time of the year. They usually have these symptoms in winter or autumn and are more comfortable in spring. They may also experience moments of elation, or feeling high in the summertime. Iam Psychiatry with SAD may experience more episodes of depression than other people. SAD may be confused with other mood disorders. It is crucial to obtain medical advice.
CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is a successful treatment option for SAD. CBT is a type of psychotherapy that teaches individuals how to challenge and alter negative thinking. CBT for SAD is focused on changing negative thoughts about the season to more positive ones. It assists people to find fun activities to counteract their lack of interest during the summer or winter months.
It's unclear what the effectiveness of herbal remedies or supplements can be for SAD. Many herbs and dietary supplements aren't regulated in the similar way drugs are. They can interact with certain prescription drugs and cause serious problems. Consult your doctor prior to taking any herbal or dietary supplements.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal depression are much more serious than the occasional "winter blues." Your GP can diagnose and treat these symptoms if you experience them every year at the same time. Treatment options include psychotherapy, light therapy and medication.
Many people who suffer from winter-pattern SAD suffer from depression-like episodes that come and go every year during the fall and winter. These episodes are often accompanied by a lack energy, an increased appetite, a preference for starchy food, sleep disruption, and weight increase. These symptoms can cause you to feel hopeless, despair and even suicidal in extreme instances.
Certain people suffering from SAD may benefit from taking a bupropion, a dopamine-inhibitor. This medication balances your serotonin levels and dopamine levels to reduce the possibility of being irritable and lethargic. This is a relatively new kind of antidepressant that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat SAD.
Your GP will prescribe the best medication option for you based on your particular symptoms and severity. They may recommend that you start antidepressants before seasonal symptoms usually start each year, and then continue taking them until spring. Depending on your particular symptoms they might also suggest that you use a lightbox or lamp to simulate sunlight and encourage the release of serotonin.
It's crucial to understand that, while many people suffering from SAD experience a deficiency in vitamin D, there's no evidence to support this as the cause of the condition. However, ensuring that your diet is rich in healthy foods and spend sufficient time outside to expose yourself to sunlight can help.
SAD can be very challenging and the symptoms may seem to last for a long period of time. It is essential to understand that there are many treatments available for this condition. with the assistance of your GP, you can overcome your symptoms and return to living your life normally. 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 type of depression that can be seen in winter and fall seasons, and improves during the spring and summer. It is caused by changes in the amount of sunlight exposure and biological rhythms that alter sleep, eating habits, mood and behavior. Seasonal depression can be treated by taking antidepressants, cognitive behavior therapy, and light therapy.
Researchers don't know what causes SAD. They believe that a lack of sunlight causes chemical changes in the brain which can trigger depression. SAD sufferers are more likely than other people to be suffering from mental disorders, like bipolar disorder or major depression. They may also be at risk due to family history, for example, someone in the family with depression or schizophrenia.
Serotonin, a chemical in the brain that regulates mood, is typically less in people who have SAD winter-pattern. Serotonin levels that are low can affect sleep, the ability to concentrate and can cause sadness. Melatonin levels might be lower in people with SAD summer-pattern. This can alter sleeping patterns and lead to depression-like symptoms.
SAD symptoms include depression, sadness and difficulty concentrating, as well as an absence of interest in the activities you normally enjoy. In some instances you may decide to withdraw from friends and family during the dark, snowy months or shed weight to deal with your emotions that are negative. You might also begin to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical issue that requires immediate attention.
Therapy can help people suffering from SAD overcome depression by changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. In the sessions of psychotherapy, your therapist will ask you questions and encourage you to pay attention to how you respond to difficult situations. Then, you'll collaborate to come up with strategies to handle these situations in a different way.
Psychotherapy is most successful when it is targeted to a specific problem, such as SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising treatments available for SAD. It was created by Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1960s, CBT is built on Albert Ellis' rational emotive behavior therapy. It is focused on reversing the negative patterns of "emotional reasoning" that lead to depression.
Light therapy
With the change of seasons people can feel tired and tired, and down in the dumps. These symptoms are more serious than "winter's blues" and may lead to depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you are suffering from this disorder, a few simple lifestyle changes and the assistance of psychotherapy or medication could relieve your symptoms and restore your mood to normal.
Research has demonstrated that bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, can improve symptoms of SAD and other conditions affecting your mood. The early morning use of a full spectrum light or light box can help reduce symptoms. Light therapy can boost serotonin levels, a natural chemical which boosts your mood. It also helps prevent the decline in your circadian clock, the internal clock of your body that regulates sleep cycles.
The best results for SAD are obtained by using an instrument that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, around the same amount of light as outside on a clear day in July. Your doctor may recommend that you stand or sit in front of the device for 30 minutes per day, beginning in the morning.
You might experience headaches or eye strain while using the light, however these effects typically disappear by adjusting the intensity of the light as well as the distance between you and the light source. Use a light box with a filter that blocks harmful ultraviolet rays. These UV rays can cause harm to your skin and eyes. You can buy a lightbox through your healthcare provider, or find one on the internet. Make sure it's medically approved to treat SAD.
Inform your healthcare provider if you suffer from bipolar disorder or any other mental condition, you have. Bright light therapy, also known as antidepressants can cause manic episodes in some people. The risk can be minimized by utilizing these treatments under the guidance of a physician.