10 Seasonal Depression Symptoms Tricks Experts Recommend
Seasonal Depression Symptoms
SAD is characterized by sadness or a decline in enjoyment of everyday activities. They may lose interest in friends and family members, sleep more, or have difficulty waking up. They also have a craving for carbohydrates, which give the body immediate energy.
The lack of sunlight in autumn and winter can impact brain pathways that regulate mood. Some people experience mild symptoms, while others suffer from symptoms that are severe enough to cause problems in relationships and at work.
Treatment
There are many options for treatment. People with SAD can benefit from psychotherapy, light therapy and medication. Simple changes can also help relieve symptoms and improve mood.
SAD can be mild, moderate or even severe. It can affect people's concentration, energy level and appetite. Some people with SAD may experience irritability or angry more frequently. They may also have difficulty concentrating and making decisions. Certain people suffering from SAD experience difficulty sleeping and could cause them to lose energy during the daytime. Symptoms of SAD can be caused by the change in seasons. The shorter daylight hours in the winter and fall months can affect a person's biological rhythms. This can reduce serotonin levels and boost the level of melatonin. This can lead to depression or increase sleepiness.
People suffering from SAD experience feeling sad or down at a certain time of the year. They usually experience these symptoms in the winter or autumn months and feel better in spring. In the summer, they can also have episodes where they feel happy or high. SAD sufferers might suffer more depressive episodes. SAD can be confused with other mood disorders. It is essential to get an assessment from a medical provider.
CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is a highly effective treatment option for SAD. CBT is a kind of psychotherapy that teaches individuals how to challenge and alter thoughts that are not helpful. CBT for SAD concentrates on replacing negative thoughts related to the season with more helpful ones. It also helps people find enjoyable activities to combat the loss of interest they typically have in the winter or summer.
It's not known what the efficacy of herbal remedies or supplements are for SAD. Many dietary and herbal supplements aren't controlled in the similar way medicines are. They can cause serious issues when they interact with prescription drugs. Check with your physician prior to taking any herbal or dietary supplement.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal depression are more serious than a few "winter blues." If you are suffering from these changes in mood each year around the same time you GP can help diagnose and treat your symptoms. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy and medication.
The winter-pattern SAD is characterized by depressive episodes that occur throughout the year in the winter and fall seasons. These episodes are often caused by a lack energy, increased appetite and a preference for starchy foods, sleep disruption and weight growth. These symptoms can trigger feelings of despair, hopelessness and even suicidal thoughts in the most severe cases.
In addition to antidepressants, certain people suffering from SAD benefit from taking a dopamine inhibitor like bupropion. This medication balances your serotonin levels and dopamine levels to lessen the possibility of being irritable and lethargic. This is a relatively new kind of antidepressant that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of SAD.
Your doctor will prescribe the best medication for you based on your symptoms and the severity. They might suggest starting antidepressants in the fall before your symptoms that are seasonal start each year, and continue to take them until spring. They might recommend using the light box or lamp to simulate sunlight, which can trigger serotonin release.
It's important to know that while many people with SAD feel an absence of vitamin D but there isn't any evidence of this being the reason of their illness. However, making sure your diet is full of healthy foods and that you take time to expose yourself to sunlight can help.
SAD can be extremely challenging, and the symptoms can seem to last for a long period of time. It is essential to know that there are a variety of treatments for this condition, and with the assistance of your GP and a variety of treatments, you can beat your symptoms and live 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 type of depression that is common in winter and fall seasons and increases during spring and the summer. It is caused by changes in the amount of sunlight exposure and biological rhythms that can disrupt sleep, eating mood and behavior. Seasonal depression can be treated by taking antidepressants, cognitive behavior therapy and light therapy.
Researchers aren't certain what causes SAD. They believe that less sunlight triggers chemical changes in the brain that can lead to depression. SAD patients are more likely than others to suffer from other mental disorders, like bipolar disorder or major depression. They could also be susceptible due to an ancestral history of mental health issues such as schizophrenia or depression.
People suffering from winter-pattern SAD generally have lower levels of the chemical in the brain called serotonin, which regulates mood. Insufficient levels of this chemical can cause sleep problems and focusing, as well as feeling sad. Melatonin levels might be lower in those with SAD summer-pattern. This can affect sleeping patterns and lead to feelings of depression.
SAD symptoms include low energy, sadness, difficulty concentrating, and a lack of interest in the things you usually enjoy. You might withdraw from your family and friends during cold, dark winter months or lose weight to deal with negative emotions. You may also begin to feel suicidal, which is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
Talk therapy can help those suffering from SAD overcome depression by changing their negative thinking patterns and behaviors. In the sessions of psychotherapy, your therapist will ask questions and help you to be attentive to how you react in difficult situations. Then, you'll collaborate to come up with strategies to handle these situations differently.
Psychotherapy is most effective when it's customized to a specific issue, for instance, SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising treatments available for SAD. CBT was developed by Aaron Beck in the 1960s. It is built on Albert Ellis’ rational emotive behaviour therapy. It focuses on transforming negative patterns of emotional reasoning” that lead to depression.
Light therapy
Many people feel tired, slow and depressed as the seasons change. Iampsychiatry are more serious than "winter's blues" and lead to depression, which is also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you are suffering from this disorder just a few lifestyle changes and the help of medication or psychotherapy can help ease your symptoms and return your mood to normal.
Bright light therapy, or phototherapy, has been found to reduce symptoms of SAD, as well as other conditions that affect your mood. The daily use of an e-lamp or full-spectrum lighting in the early morning hours can help alleviate symptoms. Light therapy can boost serotonin levels, a natural chemical that boosts your mood. It also helps prevent a decrease in your circadian clock, the internal clock in your body that regulates sleep cycles.
The most effective results for SAD are obtained by using 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 doctor will suggest that you stand or sit in the front of the device every day for at least 30 minutes starting in the early morning hours, every day of the week.
You may experience some headaches or eye strain while using the light, but these effects will usually disappear when you alter the intensity of the light and distance between you and the light source. Use a light source with a filter that blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation. These radiations can cause damage to your eyes and skin. You can purchase a light box from your physician or find one on the Internet, but make sure that it's approved by a medical professional for treatment of SAD.
It is essential to inform your doctor that you suffer from bipolar disorder or any other mental health condition, because in some individuals treatment with bright light therapy or antidepressants may trigger a manic episode. These risks can be reduced by using these treatments with the guidance of a medical professional.