Seasonal Depression Symptoms
As with other types of depression, people suffering from SAD feel depressed or have a feeling of sadness in their everyday activities. They may lose interest in family members and friends and sleep less, or have difficulty getting up. They also crave carbohydrates, which gives the body immediate energy.
The brain's pathways for regulating mood can be affected by the lack of sunlight during autumn and winter. Some sufferers have mild
symptoms of late-life depression while others experience symptoms that are severe enough to affect relationships and at work.
Treatment
The good news is that treatment options are available. People suffering from SAD can benefit from light therapy, psychotherapy and medication. Simple changes can aid in relieving symptoms and improve mood.
SAD can be mild, moderate or severe. It can affect someone's concentration and energy level as well as appetite. People with SAD may feel angry and frustrated more easily. They may also have difficulty taking decisions or concentrating. Some people suffering from SAD have difficulty sleeping which can result in an inability to focus during the day. Symptoms of SAD can be caused by the change in seasons. The shorter daylight hours in the winter and fall months can affect a person's biological rhythms. This can lower serotonin levels and boost Melatonin levels. This could cause depression or increase sleepiness.
People suffering from SAD typically report feeling down or sad at certain times of the year. These symptoms usually occur in winter or the fall and then they feel better in the spring. In summer, they can also experience episodes where they feel elated or high. People suffering from SAD may experience more episodes of depression than other people. SAD is often confused with other mood disorders. It's crucial to seek an medical diagnosis.
CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is a highly effective treatment option for SAD. CBT is a kind of psychotherapy that teaches individuals how to challenge and change negative thinking. CBT for SAD is focused on changing negative thoughts related to the season and replacing them with more positive ones. It also helps people find enjoyable activities to combat the lack of interest they usually experience in the summer or winter.
It's not known how effective herbal remedies or supplements can be for SAD. Many herbal remedies and dietary supplements do not have the same degree of regulation as medications. They may interact with certain prescription medications and cause serious issues. Consult your healthcare provider prior to taking any herbal or dietary supplement.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal depressive disorder are more severe than a few "winter blues." If you suffer from these mood swings throughout the year at the same time you GP can help you identify and treat your symptoms. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy and medications.
Many people suffering from winter-pattern SAD suffer from depression-like episodes that come and go each year in the fall and winter. These episodes may be accompanied by a lack
signs of depression in adults energy, an increase in appetite and an appetite for starchy foods along with sleep disruption and weight increase. These symptoms can cause you to feel helpless or depressed, and may even lead to suicide in extreme instances.
Some people with SAD might benefit from taking a bupropion, which is a dopamine-inhibitor. This medication helps to regulate your serotonin and dopamine levels and reduces the possibility of feeling depressed and anxious. This is a relatively recent kind of antidepressant that has been approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat SAD.
Your doctor will prescribe the right medication for you, according to your
physical symptoms of being depressed and degree of severity. They will likely recommend that you start antidepressants before seasonal symptoms usually start each year, and then continue taking them until spring. They might recommend using a lamp or light box to simulate sunlight, which can encourage serotonin release.
It is important to remember that while many people with SAD are suffering from a vitamin D deficiency, there is no proof of this being the reason of their illness. You can improve your health by eating nutritious food and spending enough time outdoors in the sunlight.
SAD can be a very difficult condition, and the symptoms can seem to persist for a long time. It is important to know that there are a variety of treatments for this condition. With the assistance of your GP you can get rid of symptoms and return to a normal lifestyle. For more information on seasonal affective disorder and other
mental health symptoms 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 symptoms checklist that manifests in the fall and winter and improves in the spring and summer. It is caused by changes to the amount of sunlight and biological clocks that can disrupt sleep, eating and mood. Seasonal depression can be treated with antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapy, and light therapy.
Researchers aren't certain what causes SAD. But they think that less sunlight triggers a chemical change in the brain, which leads to depression. SAD patients are more likely than other people to suffer from other mental disorders, like bipolar disorder or
major depressive symptoms depression. They could also be at risk due to family history, such as someone in the family with schizophrenia or depression.
Serotonin, the brain chemical that regulates mood, is often lower in those with SAD winter-pattern. Insufficient levels of this chemical can cause problems with sleeping and thinking clearly, as well as feeling sad. People with summer-pattern SAD might have lower levels of melatonin which can affect sleep patterns and cause depression-related symptoms.
The symptoms of SAD are sadness, low energy and difficulty concentrating, as well as losing interest in the activities you normally enjoy. In some cases, you might be unable to connect 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. This is a serious medical condition that requires immediate attention.
Talk therapy can help people suffering from SAD overcome depression by changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. During sessions, your therapist might ask you questions or suggest that you to pay attention to the way you react to difficult situations. Together, you'll work to come up with new ways to deal with these situations.
Psychotherapy is most effective when it's customized to a specific issue, such as SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising treatments available for SAD. It was created by Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1960s, CBT is based on Albert Ellis' rational emotive behavior therapy. It is focused on changing destructive patterns of "emotional reasoning" that can lead to depression.
Light therapy
As the seasons change, seasons many people feel slow and tired, and down. These symptoms could be more serious than "winter's blues" and lead to depression, also referred to as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you are suffering from this condition it is possible to make a few minor lifestyle changes and the assistance of medication or psychotherapy can alleviate your symptoms and bring your mood back to normal.
Research has shown that bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, can improve symptoms of SAD and other conditions affecting your mood. Utilizing a light box or specialized full-spectrum light in the early morning hours can help reduce your symptoms. Light therapy boosts serotonin production, which is a natural chemical that boosts your mood. It also helps prevent a decrease in your circadian clock, which is the internal clock of your body that regulates sleep cycles.
The best results are achieved by using a device which emits 10,000 Lux of bright white light. This is about the same amount of brightness you see outside on a sunny 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, all week.
You may experience some headaches or eye strain while using the light, however these effects usually go away by adjusting the intensity of the light as well as the distance between you and the light source. It is important to use a light box that filters out the harmful ultraviolet rays that could damage your eyes and the skin. You can purchase a light box through your doctor or locate one on the Internet, but make sure that it's approved by a medical professional to treat SAD.
It is important to inform your healthcare professional that you suffer from bipolar disorder or any other mental health issue, as for some people, bright light therapy or antidepressants could trigger a manic attack. The risk can be minimized by utilizing these treatments under the guidance of a doctor.
