Seasonal Depression Symptoms
SAD is characterised by sadness or a lack in enjoyment of daily activities. They may become less interested in their friends and family, sleep more or have trouble waking up, and are in search of carbohydrates that give the body quick energy.
In the fall and winter can alter 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
The good news is that treatment options are available. Psychotherapy, light therapy, and medications can aid sufferers with SAD. Simple changes can help to relieve symptoms and improve mood.
SAD can be severe or mild. It can affect a person's concentration and energy levels as well as appetite. Some people suffering from SAD might be more angry and irritable often. They might also have trouble taking decisions and concentrating. Certain sufferers of SAD suffer from sleep problems and this may cause them to be deficient in energy throughout the day. The symptoms of SAD can be caused by the changing seasons. The shorter hours of daylight during winter and fall seasons can alter the biological rhythms of a person. It can decrease serotonin levels, and increase melatonin. This may cause sleepiness and cause depression.
People with SAD report feeling down or sad at a particular time of the year. These symptoms typically occur in winter or the fall, and they feel better in the spring. They can also experience episodes of elation or feeling high in the summertime. People with SAD might experience more depression episodes than other people. SAD is sometimes confused with other mood disorders. It is essential to get a medical diagnosis.
CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is an effective treatment option for SAD. CBT is a kind of psychotherapy that teaches people to confront and change unhelpful thoughts. CBT for SAD focuses primarily on changing negative thoughts about the season to more helpful ones. It helps people find enjoyable activities to combat their lack of interest in the summer or winter months.
post depression symptoms what the effectiveness of herbal remedies or supplements can be for SAD. Many herbal remedies and dietary supplements don't have the same level of regulation as medications. They may interact with certain prescription drugs and cause serious problems. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any dietary or herbal supplements.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal depression are much more serious 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 medication.
Many people who suffer from winter-pattern SAD experience depressive episodes that appear and go each year in the fall and winter. These episodes can be associated with a lack of energy and appetite and a desire for starchy foods and sleep disturbances, as well as weight growth. These symptoms can lead you to feel hopeless and despairing, or even suicidal in extreme 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 likelihood of becoming anxious and lethargic. This is a relatively new kind of antidepressant that has been approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat SAD.
Your physician will prescribe the most effective medication for you based on your specific symptoms and the severity of your illness. They may recommend that you begin antidepressants prior to when the symptoms of seasonality usually begin every year, and keep taking them until spring. They might also suggest using a lamp or light box to simulate sunlight, which can trigger the release serotonin.
It is important to know that, while many people with SAD suffer from a lack of vitamin D, there is no evidence to support this as the cause of their disease. You can improve your health by consuming nutritious food and spending time in the sun.
SAD is a difficult condition to deal with and the symptoms can last for a long while. However, it is important to understand that there are many treatments available for this condition. with the help of your GP you can conquer the symptoms and resume 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 depression that can be seen in fall and winter and is more severe in the spring and the summer. It is caused by changes in 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 sure what causes SAD. They believe that less sunlight triggers brain chemicals to change which can trigger depression. SAD patients are more likely than others to suffer from other mental disorders, like bipolar disorder or major depression. They may be also at risk due to the family history of mental health conditions like depression or schizophrenia.
People with winter-pattern SAD generally have lower levels of the brain chemical serotonin that regulates mood. The low levels of this chemical may cause problems with sleeping and thinking clearly, as well as feeling sad. People with summer-related SAD may have lower levels of melatonin, which can impact sleeping patterns and trigger depression-related symptoms.
SAD symptoms include low energy, sadness as well as difficulty concentrating and a decrease in interest in the things you usually like. In some instances you may cut off contact with family and friends during the cold, dark months or lose weight as a way to cope with your negative emotions. You might also start to feel suicidal, which is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate care.
Therapy can help people suffering from SAD overcome depression by changing their negative thinking patterns and behavior. In the psychotherapy sessions, your therapist will ask questions and help you to be attentive to your reactions to difficult situations. Then, you will discuss strategies to handle these situations differently.
Psychotherapy is most successful when it's tailored to a specific issue like 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 behaviour therapy. It focuses on transforming harmful patterns of “emotional reasoning” that lead to depression.
Light therapy
With the change of seasons many people feel slow exhausted, fatigued and down. For some, these symptoms are more serious than a normal condition known as the "winter blues," and can cause depression called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. If you are suffering from this condition, simple lifestyle changes can help relieve symptoms and restore your normal mood.
Bright light therapy, or phototherapy, has been shown to help alleviate symptoms of SAD as well as other conditions that affect your mood. Utilizing light boxes or specialized full-spectrum lighting in the early morning hours can help reduce your symptoms. Light therapy helps increase the production of serotonin a natural chemical that boosts your mood and makes you more alert. It can also help prevent a dip in your circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock in your body that regulates sleep cycles and other important functions.
The most effective results for SAD can be achieved by using a specific device that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, roughly the same brightness as outside on a clear day in July. Your healthcare provider will recommend you sit or stand in front of the device each day for 30 minutes or more starting in the early morning hours, every day of the week.
If you suffer from eye strain or headaches and headaches, you can alter the intensity and distance between the light source and your. Make sure you use a light box that has an anti-radiation filter that blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation. These UV rays can cause harm to your eyes and skin. You can buy a lightbox from your healthcare provider or find one on the Internet, but make sure it's medically approved for treatment of SAD.
Inform your doctor if you suffer from bipolar disorder, or any other mental condition you are suffering from. Bright light therapy, or antidepressants can cause manic episodes in certain individuals. These risks can be minimized through these treatments under the guidance of a psychiatrist.