Seasonal Depression Symptoms
SAD is characterised by sadness or a decline in enjoyment of daily activities. They might lose interest in families and friends, fall asleep more, or have trouble getting up, and crave carbohydrates that give the body quick energy.
The brain's mood-regulating pathways can be affected by the absence of sunlight in autumn and winter. Some people experience mild symptoms, while others experience symptoms that are so severe as to affect relationships and at work.
Treatment
The good news is that treatment options are available. Psychotherapy, light therapy and medication can help sufferers with SAD. Simple changes can also aid in relieving symptoms and improve mood.
SAD can be either severe or mild. It can trigger changes in an individual's energy levels, appetite, and concentration. People with SAD may feel irritable or angry more frequently. They may also experience difficulty taking decisions or concentrating. Some people with SAD suffer from sleep problems and may cause them to be deficient in energy throughout the daytime. The depressive symptoms checklist of SAD can be caused by the change in seasons. The shorter days in fall and winter may affect a person’s biological rhythms. This can decrease serotonin and increase Melatonin. This can lead to insomnia or depression.
People suffering from SAD experience feeling depressed down or sad at certain times of the year. The symptoms typically manifest in the fall or winter and then they feel better in the spring. They may also experience a feeling of elation, or feeling high in the summertime. SAD sufferers may have more depression-related episodes. SAD may be confused with other mood disorders. It's important to get a diagnosis from a healthcare provider.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for SAD. CBT is a type of psychotherapy that teaches people how to challenge and change thoughts that are not helpful. CBT for SAD focuses on changing negative thoughts associated with the season with more helpful ones. It also helps people find enjoyable activities to counteract the lack of interest that they experience during the summer or winter months.
It's not known what the effectiveness of herbal remedies or supplements are for SAD. Many herbs and dietary supplements aren't controlled in the same way as medications are. They can cause serious problems when they interact with prescription medications. Consult your doctor prior to taking any dietary or herbal supplements.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal depression are much more serious than a few "winter blues." If you are suffering from these changes in mood each year at the same time, your GP can help diagnose and manage your symptoms. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy 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 may be associated with a lack of energy, increased appetite and a preference for starchy foods as well as sleep disturbance and weight gain. These symptoms can lead to feelings of despair, hopelessness and even suicidal thoughts in most extreme cases.
In addition to antidepressants certain people suffering from SAD benefit from taking a dopamine inhibitor like bupropion. This medication regulates serotonin levels and dopamine levels to lessen the likelihood of becoming anxious and lethargic. This is a relatively brand new type of antidepressant which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in treating SAD.
Your GP will prescribe the best medication option for you based on your specific symptoms and the severity of your illness. They'll likely suggest that you begin antidepressants prior to when the symptoms of seasonal depression usually begin each year, and then continue taking them until spring. They might recommend using an artificial light source or a light box to simulate sunlight, which can trigger the release serotonin.
It's important to know that although many people with SAD suffer from a vitamin D deficiency but there isn't any evidence of this being the cause of their illness. You can improve your health by eating a healthy diet and spending enough time in the sun.
SAD is a difficult condition to manage and symptoms can last an extended time. 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 get back to a normal lifestyle. 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 depression that occurs in the fall and winter, and improves during the spring and summer. It is caused by changes in the amount of sunlight exposure and biological rhythms that affect sleep, eating, mood and behavior. The treatment for seasonal depression is with antidepressants, cognitive therapy and light therapy.
Researchers aren't certain what causes SAD. They believe that less sunlight triggers brain chemicals to change which can trigger depression. People with SAD are more likely to suffer from other mental health issues which include bipolar disorder and major identifying depression symptoms. They may also be at risk because of family history, like someone in the family with schizophrenia or depression.
People with winter-pattern SAD generally have lower levels of the chemical in the brain called serotonin, which regulates mood. Low levels of this chemical could cause sleep problems and thinking clearly, as well as being sad. People with summer-related SAD may have lower levels of melatonin, which can impact sleep patterns and cause depression symptoms.
Symptoms of SAD include depression, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and loss of interest in activities that you normally enjoy. In certain instances, you might cut off contact with family and friends during the wintery, cold months or shed weight as a way to cope with your negative emotions. You may also start to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical condition that requires immediate attention.
Talk therapy can assist SAD sufferers overcome depression by changing bad habits of thinking and behavior. During sessions, your therapist may ask you questions and encourage you pay attention to your reactions to difficult situations. Then, you will work together to develop ways to deal with these situations in a different way.
Psychotherapy is most successful when it's tailored to a specific issue like SAD. One of the most promising treatments for SAD is known as cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT. CBT was developed by Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1960s, CBT was built on Albert Ellis' rational emotive behavior therapy. It focuses on changing negative patterns of "emotional reasoning" that can lead to depression.
Light therapy
As the seasons change, seasons people can feel tired exhausted, fatigued and down in the dumps. These symptoms could be more serious than the "winter's blues" and can lead to depression, also referred to as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you are suffering from this condition, a few simple lifestyle changes and the help of medication or psychotherapy can relieve your symptoms and restore your mood back to normal.
Bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, has been proven to improve symptoms of SAD as well as other conditions that affect your mood. A morning routine of using a light with a full spectrum or box can help reduce symptoms. Light therapy increases the production signs of depression in adults serotonin an organic chemical that improves your mood and helps you stay alert. It can also help prevent the decline in your circadian rhythm. This is the body's internal clock that controls sleep cycles, as well as other vital functions.
The best results for SAD are achieved through a special device that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, around the same brightness as outside on an uncloudy day in July. Your doctor may recommend that you stand or sit in front of the device for 30 minutes each day, starting in the morning.
If you suffer from eye strain or headaches or headaches, you can adjust the intensity and distance between the light source and your. It is essential to utilize a light box that filters out the harmful ultraviolet rays which can damage your eyes and the skin. You can buy the lightbox from your healthcare provider or find one on the internet. Just make sure that it's medically approved to treat SAD.
Tell your healthcare provider if you suffer from bipolar disorder or any other mental illness, you have. Bright light therapy, also known as antidepressants, can cause manic episodes in certain people. The risk can be reduced by using these treatments under the guidance of a psychiatrist.