The Reasons Seasonal Depression Symptoms Is Tougher Than You Imagine
Seasonal Depression Symptoms
SAD is characterised by sadness or a decline in enjoyment of daily activities. They may lose interest in family and friends, sleep more or have trouble waking up, and are in search of carbohydrates that give the body quick energy.
The brain's mood-regulating pathways can be affected by the absence of sunlight during the fall and winter months. Some people experience mild symptoms, while others experience 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. Light therapy, psychotherapy, and medications can aid sufferers with SAD. They also can make simple changes that can help relieve their symptoms and improve their mood.
SAD can be mild, moderate or even severe. It can affect a person's concentration and energy levels as well as appetite. People with SAD may feel angry and frustrated more easily. They may also have trouble taking decisions and concentrating. Certain sufferers of SAD have trouble sleeping, which could cause them to lose energy throughout the daytime. The symptoms of SAD can be caused by the change in seasons. The shorter daylight in the winter and autumn seasons could alter the biological rhythms of a person. This can reduce serotonin levels and increase Melatonin. This could cause sleepiness or depression.
People with SAD report feeling down or sad at a particular time of the year. They usually experience these symptoms in the winter or autumn and feel better in spring. They can also experience episodes of elation or feeling awestruck in the summer. People suffering from SAD may experience more episodes of depression than other people. 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 type of psychotherapy that teaches people how to challenge and alter thoughts that are not helpful. CBT for SAD focuses on changing negative thoughts associated with the season to more positive ones. It assists people to find enjoyable activities to offset their lack of interest in winter or summer.
It's not clear what the effectiveness of herbal remedies or supplements are for SAD. Many herbal remedies and dietary supplements aren't regulated the same way as medicines are. They can cause serious problems when they interact with prescription medications. Talk to Iampsychiatry to taking any herbal or dietary supplements.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal depression are much more serious than a few "winter blues." Your GP can diagnose and treat these symptoms if you experience them every year at the same time. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy and medication.
Winter-pattern SAD is characterized by depressive episodes that take place every year during the winter and fall seasons. These episodes are often caused by fatigue and appetite and a craving for food that is starchy as well as sleep disturbances and weight growth. These symptoms can cause you to feel helpless, despair and even suicidal in severe cases.
In addition to antidepressants some people with SAD benefit from taking a dopamine-inhibitor like bupropion. This medication regulates serotonin levels and dopamine levels to reduce the tendency to be unmotivated 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 doctor will prescribe the right medication for you, depending on your symptoms and severity. They will likely recommend that you begin antidepressants prior to when the symptoms of seasonality usually begin each year, and continue taking them until spring. Based on your specific symptoms they might also suggest that you use a lightbox or lamp to mimic sunlight and stimulate the release of serotonin.
It's important that you know that, although many people with SAD experience a deficiency in vitamin D, there is no evidence to support this as the cause of the disease. You can improve your health by consuming a healthy diet and spending enough time in the sun.
SAD is a challenging condition to deal with and symptoms can last an extended time. However, it is important to understand that there are a variety of treatments available for this condition, and with the help of your GP you can conquer 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
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that is seen in the fall and winter and improves in the spring and summer. It is caused by changes to sunlight exposure and biological clocks, which may cause disturbances in sleep, eating habits and mood. Seasonal depression can be treated by taking antidepressants, cognitive behavior therapy and light therapy.
Researchers aren't sure what causes SAD. They believe that a lack of sunlight causes chemical changes in the brain that can lead to depression. People suffering from SAD are more likely to suffer from other mental health problems such as major depression and bipolar disorder. They could also be susceptible due to a family history of mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia or depression.
Serotonin, the brain chemical that regulates mood, is usually lower in those with SAD winter-pattern. Low levels of this chemical could cause sleep problems and focusing, as well as being sad. Melatonin levels may be lower in people who have SAD summer-pattern. This can alter sleeping patterns and lead to depression-like symptoms.
The symptoms of SAD are depression, sadness and a lack of concentration. It can also cause a loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy. You may withdraw from family and friends during the winter months, or lose weight in order to cope with the negative emotions. You may also begin to feel suicidal and this is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.
Talk therapy can assist SAD sufferers overcome their depression through the change of unhealthy thought patterns and behavior. In the sessions of psychotherapy, your therapist will ask you questions and encourage you to be attentive to how you react in difficult situations. Then, you'll discuss ways to deal with these situations in a different way.
Psychotherapy is most successful when it is specifically tailored to a particular issue such as SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising treatments for SAD. CBT was created by Aaron Beck in the 1960s. It is based on Albert Ellis’ rational emotive behaviour therapy. It focuses on transforming harmful patterns of “emotional reasoning" that cause depression.
Light therapy
Many people feel tired, slow and depressed when the seasons change. These feelings are more serious than the "winter's blues" and can lead to depression, also referred to as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you suffer from this disorder, a few simple lifestyle changes, as well as the help of psychotherapy or medication could alleviate your symptoms and bring your mood back to normal.
Research has proven that bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, can alleviate symptoms of SAD and other conditions affecting your mood. The early morning use of a light with a full spectrum or box can reduce symptoms. Light therapy works by increasing the production of serotonin a natural chemical that boosts your mood and helps you stay alert. It can also stop a drop in your circadian clock, the internal clock of your body that regulates sleep cycles.
The best results for SAD can be achieved by using an instrument that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, about the same brightness as outside on a clear day in July. Your healthcare professional will recommend that you stand or sit in front of the device each day for at least 30 minutes starting in the early hours of the morning, seven days a week.
You may experience some headaches or eye strain when using the light source, however these effects usually go away if you adjust the intensity of the light and the distance between you and the light source. It's important to use a light box that filters out the harmful ultraviolet rays that can damage your eyes and skin. You can buy a lightbox from your healthcare provider or find one online. Be sure to ensure that it's medically approved to treat SAD.
Tell your healthcare provider if bipolar disorder, or any other mental illness you suffer from. Bright light therapy, or antidepressants, can trigger manic episodes in some individuals. The risk can be reduced by using these treatments under the supervision of a psychiatrist.