What Is Seasonal Depression Symptoms And Why Is Everyone Talking About It?
Seasonal Depression Symptoms
SAD is characterised by sadness or a deficiency in enjoyment of daily activities. They may lose interest in family and friends and sleep less, or have trouble waking up. They also have a craving for carbohydrates, which give the body an instant boost of energy.
The brain's mood-regulating pathways could be affected by the lack of sunlight in winter and fall. Some sufferers experience mild symptoms, while others experience symptoms that are so severe as to interfere in relationships and at work.
Treatment
There are a variety of treatment options available. Patients suffering from SAD can benefit from psychotherapy, light therapy and medications. Simple changes can help relieve symptoms and improve mood.
SAD can be mild or severe. It can affect someone's concentration and energy level as well as appetite. Some people with SAD may feel irritable or angry more easily. They might also have trouble concentrating and making decisions. Some people with SAD have trouble sleeping, which can cause them to lack energy throughout the day. The change of seasons can cause symptoms of SAD. The shorter daylight in the winter and autumn seasons could affect a person’s biological rhythms. This can reduce serotonin levels and boost melatonin. This could cause insomnia or depression.
People who have SAD often report feeling down or sad at a specific time of year. The symptoms typically manifest in winter or the fall and then they feel better in spring. They can also experience episodes of elation, or feeling high in the summertime. SAD patients may have more depression-related episodes. SAD can be confused with other mood disorders. It is important to obtain a diagnosis from a healthcare professional.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for SAD. CBT is a form of psychotherapy that teaches people to challenge and change unhelpful thoughts. CBT for SAD concentrates on changing negative thoughts about the season to more positive ones. It helps people find fun activities to counteract their lack of interest during the summer or winter months.
It's not clear how effective herbal remedies or supplements are for SAD. Many herbal remedies and dietary supplements do not have the same level of regulation as medications. They can interact with prescription drugs and cause serious problems. Check with your physician prior to taking any dietary or herbal supplement.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal depression are much more severe than the occasional "winter blues." Your GP 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.
Winter-pattern SAD is characterized by depressive episodes that occur throughout the year in the fall and winter. These episodes may be associated with a lack of energy, an increase in appetite and a preference for starchy foods, sleep disruption and weight gain. These symptoms can cause you to feel hopeless, despair and even suicidal in extreme instances.
In addition to antidepressants, certain people suffering from SAD benefit from taking a dopamine-inhibitor like bupropion. This medication can help balance your serotonin and dopamine levels and reduces the possibility of feeling depressed and angry. This is a relatively new kind of antidepressant that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in treating SAD.
severe clinical depression symptoms will recommend the best medication for you based on your particular symptoms and severity. They will likely recommend that you begin antidepressants before the symptoms of seasonality usually begin every year, and keep taking them until spring. They might recommend using the light box or lamp to simulate sunlight, which will encourage the release serotonin.
It's important that you know that, while many people suffering from SAD suffer from a lack of vitamin D, there's no evidence to suggest this as the cause of their disease. You can improve your health by consuming a healthy diet and spending enough time in the sunshine.
SAD is a difficult illness to manage and symptoms can last a long while. It is important to know that there are a variety of solutions for this condition. With the assistance of your GP you can get rid of symptoms and resume an ordinary 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 occurs in the winter and fall seasons and is more severe in the spring and summer. It is caused by changes to the exposure to sunlight and biological clocks that can affect sleep, eating habits and mood. Antidepressants, light therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can help improve symptoms of seasonal depression.
Researchers aren't certain what causes SAD. They believe that less sunlight triggers brain chemicals to change which can trigger depression. SAD sufferers are more likely than other people to be suffering from mental disorders, like major depression or bipolar disorder. They could also be at risk due to family history, such as relatives with depression or schizophrenia.
People suffering from winter-pattern SAD often have lower levels of the brain chemical serotonin that regulates mood. Serotonin levels are low and can affect sleep, the ability to concentrate and cause sadness. People who suffer from summer-related SAD might have lower levels of melatonin, which can impact sleeping patterns and trigger feelings of depression.
Symptoms of SAD include depression, fatigue and difficulty concentrating, as well as losing interest in the activities you normally enjoy. You may withdraw from family and friends during the cold, dark winter months or lose weight in order to cope with the negative emotions. You might also begin to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical condition that requires immediate attention.
Talk therapy can assist SAD sufferers overcome their depression through the modification of negative thoughts and behaviors. During sessions, your therapist may ask you questions and help you to pay attention to the way you react to difficult situations. Then, you will work together to develop strategies to handle these situations in a different way.
Psychotherapy is most successful when it's targeted to a specific problem such as SAD. One of the most promising treatments for SAD is called cognitive behavioral 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 changing destructive patterns of "emotional reasoning” that lead to depression.
Light therapy
Many people feel tired, sluggish and depressed when the seasons change. These feelings are more serious than the "winter's blues" and may lead to depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you're suffering from this disorder, simple lifestyle changes can help relieve symptoms and help restore your normal mood.
Bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, has been proven to reduce symptoms of SAD and other conditions that affect your mood. The early morning use of a full spectrum light or light box can reduce symptoms. Light therapy increases your production of serotonin, a natural chemical that boosts your mood and boosts your alertness. It also helps prevent the decline in your circadian clock, the internal clock of 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, roughly the same brightness as outside on an uncloudy day in July. Your healthcare professional will recommend that you stand or sit in the front of the device every day for at least 30 minutes, starting in the early morning, every day of the week.
You may experience some headaches or eye strain when using the light, however these effects typically disappear by adjusting the intensity of the light and the distance between you and the light source. Use a light source with an anti-radiation filter that blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation. These UV rays can cause harm to your eyes and skin. You can purchase a light box through your physician or find one on the Internet, but make sure that it's approved by a medical professional for treatment of SAD.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have bipolar disorder, or any other mental condition, you have. Bright light therapy, also known as antidepressants, can trigger manic episodes in some people. These risks can be mitigated through these treatments under the guidance of a psychiatrist.