Seasonal Depression Symptoms
As with other types of depression, people with SAD experience sadness or a lack of enthusiasm for daily activities. They may lose interest with family and friends and may sleep more or have difficulty waking up. They also have a craving for carbohydrates, which provide the body instant energy.
The brain's mood-regulating pathways could be affected by the absence of sunlight during winter and fall. Some people experience mild symptoms, while others experience symptoms that are severe enough to cause problems in relationships and at work.
Treatment
The good news is that treatment options are available. Psychotherapy, light therapy and medication can assist people with SAD. They can also make simple changes that can help relieve their symptoms and improve their mood.
SAD can be severe or mild. It can lead to changes in the person's energy levels, appetite and concentration. Some people who have SAD may experience irritability or angry more frequently. They may also have trouble in concentrating or making decisions. Some people suffering from SAD experience difficulty sleeping, which could cause them to lose energy during the daytime. Symptoms of SAD can be triggered by the change in seasons. The shorter daylight hours in the fall and winter can affect a person's bio rhythms. Serotonin levels can drop and increase the hormone melatonin. This can cause insomnia or cause depression.
People with SAD report feeling depressed or sad at a certain time of the year. The symptoms typically manifest in winter or fall and then they feel better in the spring. In summer, they can also experience periods of feeling elated or high. SAD patients may experience more episodes of depression. SAD is sometimes confused with other mood disorders. It's important to get an evaluation from a health doctor.
CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is a highly effective treatment option for SAD. CBT is a kind of psychotherapy which teaches people how to challenge and alter unhelpful thinking. CBT for SAD is focused on changing negative thoughts associated with the season with more helpful ones. It assists people to find fun activities to counteract their lack of interest in the summer or winter.
It's not clear what the effectiveness of herbal remedies or supplements are for SAD. Many herbal remedies and supplements do not have the same level of control as prescription drugs. They can interact with prescription drugs and cause serious problems. Consult your healthcare provider prior to taking any dietary or herbal supplement.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal depression are much more serious than a few "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 psychotherapy, light therapy and medications.
The winter-pattern SAD is defined by depressive episodes that take place throughout the year in the winter and fall. These episodes are often caused by fatigue, an increased appetite and a desire for starchy food as well as sleep disturbances and weight gain. These symptoms can cause you to feel depressed, despair and even suicidal in severe cases.
Certain people suffering from SAD may benefit from taking a bupropion, a dopamine inhibitor. This medication helps balance your serotonin levels and dopamine levels, which can reduce the likelihood of becoming irritable and lethargic. This is a relatively new type of antidepressant that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use to treat SAD.
Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication for you, according to your symptoms and degree of severity. They might suggest that you start antidepressants in the fall, before the symptoms of seasonal depression typically begin each year and continue to take them until spring. Based on your specific symptoms they might also suggest that you utilize a light box or lamp to simulate sunlight and promote the release of serotonin.
It's important that you know that, although many people with SAD suffer from a deficiency of vitamin D, there is no evidence to suggest this as the reason behind the disease. However, ensuring your diet is a source of healthy foods and spend enough time outdoors to get exposed to sunlight can aid in reducing.
SAD can be very challenging and the symptoms can seem to last for a long time. It is crucial to understand that there are a variety of ways to treat this condition. With the help 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 is common in winter and autumn, and improves during the spring and the summer. It is caused by changes in sunlight exposure and biological rhythms which can alter sleep, eating habits mood and behavior. The treatment for seasonal depression is 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 lead to depression. SAD patients are more likely than others to suffer from other mental conditions, such as major depression or bipolar disorder. They could also be at risk due to an ancestral history of mental health issues such as schizophrenia or depression.
People with winter-pattern SAD generally have lower levels of the chemical in the brain called serotonin which regulates mood. The low levels of this chemical could cause problems with sleeping and thinking clearly, as well as being sad. Melatonin levels might be lower in those with SAD summer-pattern. This can alter sleep patterns and trigger depression-like feelings.
symptoms of anxiety and depression www.iampsychiatry.com include sadness, low-energy, difficulty concentrating, and a loss of enthusiasm for the activities you normally enjoy. In some cases you may decide to cut off contact with family and friends during the cold, dark months or shed weight to cope with your emotions that are negative. You may also begin to feel suicidal or suicidal, which is a major medical emergency that requires immediate care.
Talk therapy can help those suffering from SAD overcome their depression by changing their negative thinking patterns and behavior. During sessions, your therapist might ask you questions and encourage you to pay attention to how you respond to difficult situations. Then, you will collaborate to come up with ways to approach these situations in a different way.
Psychotherapy is most effective when it's tailored to a specific issue for instance, SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising treatments available for SAD. CBT was invented by Aaron Beck in the 1960s. It is based on Albert Ellis’ rational emotive behavior therapy. It focuses on changing destructive patterns of "emotional reasoning" that can 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, which is also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you are suffering from this disorder it is possible to make a few minor lifestyle changes, as well as the help of psychotherapy or medication could help ease your symptoms and return your mood to normal.
Bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, has been shown to reduce symptoms of SAD as well as other conditions that can affect your mood. A morning routine of using a full-spectrum light or light box can help alleviate symptoms. Light therapy works by increasing serotonin production, a natural chemical that boosts your mood and boosts your alertness. It also helps prevent a drop in your circadian clock, the body's inner clock that controls sleep cycles.
The most effective results for SAD are obtained by using a specific device that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, about the same brightness as being outside on an uncloudy day in July. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you stand or sit in front of the device for 30 minutes per day, beginning in the morning.
There may be some eye strain or headaches while using the light, however these effects usually go away when you alter the intensity of the light and the distance between you and the light source. It is important to make use of a light source that blocks harmful ultraviolet rays that could damage your eyes and the skin. You can purchase a light box from your healthcare provider or find one on the Internet however, make sure it's medically approved to treat SAD.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have bipolar disorder, or any other mental disorder you are suffering from. Bright light therapy, or antidepressants, can cause manic episodes in certain individuals. These risks can be minimized by using these treatments under the guidance of a psychiatrist.