Seasonal Depression Symptoms

SAD is characterised by sadness or a deficiency in enjoyment of daily activities. They might lose interest in families and friends, fall asleep more or have trouble waking up, and crave carbohydrates which give the body rapid energy.

In the fall and winter can alter brain pathways that help regulate mood. Some people experience mild symptoms, but others experience symptoms that are serious enough to affect relationships and work.

Treatment

The good news is that treatment options are available. Light therapy, psychotherapy, and medications can aid people with SAD. They also can make simple changes that can help relieve symptoms and improve mood.

SAD can be mild, moderate or severe. It can affect someone's concentration, energy level and appetite. Some people with SAD can be more angry and irritable often. They may also have difficulty in concentrating or making decisions. Some people suffering from SAD have trouble sleeping well which can result in fatigue throughout the daytime. The change in seasons can trigger symptoms of SAD. The shorter daylight hours during the winter and fall seasons can affect a person's biological rhythms. This can reduce serotonin levels and increase melatonin. This can lead to insomnia or depression.

People with SAD frequently feel sad or depressed at a specific time of year. These symptoms of persistent depressive disorder usually occur in winter or fall and then they feel better in spring. In summer, they can also have episodes where they feel happy or high. People suffering from SAD might experience more episodes signs of mild depression depression than other people. SAD is sometimes confused with other mood disorders. It is important to obtain a diagnosis from a healthcare provider.

cognitive signs of depression behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment for SAD. CBT is a kind of psychotherapy that teaches individuals how to confront and change thoughts that are not helpful. CBT for SAD concentrates on replacing negative thoughts associated with the season to more positive ones. It assists people in finding enjoyable activities to combat their loss of interest in winter or summer.

It's not known what the effectiveness of herbal remedies or supplements are for SAD. Many herbal remedies and dietary supplements aren't regulated in the similar way drugs are. 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 depression disorder are more serious than a few "winter blues." If you are suffering from these mood swings throughout the year around the same time your GP can assist in diagnosing and manage your symptoms. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy, and medication.

Winter-pattern SAD is characterized by depressive episodes that happen throughout the year in the fall and winter. These episodes may be accompanied by a lack of energy, an increase in appetite and an increased desire for starchy food as well as sleep disturbance and weight gain. These symptoms can lead you to feel depressed and despairing, or even suicidal in severe cases.

In addition to antidepressants, certain people suffering from SAD benefit by taking a dopamine inhibitor like bupropion. This medication balances your serotonin levels and dopamine levels, which can reduce the possibility of being anxious and lethargic. 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 recommend the best medication for you based on the specific symptoms and severity. They will probably recommend starting antidepressants during the fall before your symptoms that are seasonal begin every year and continue to take them until spring. Based on the specific symptoms you experience, they may also recommend that you use a light box or lamp to mimic sunlight and promote the release of serotonin.

It's important to know that while many people with SAD feel a vitamin D deficiency however, there is no evidence of this being the cause of their illness. However, ensuring your diet is rich in healthy foods and that you spend sufficient time outside to expose yourself to sunlight can help.

SAD is a difficult condition to manage and the symptoms can last for a long while. It is crucial to understand that there are many solutions for this condition. With the assistance of your GP you can conquer symptoms and return to regular 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

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that manifests in winter and fall and improves in the spring and summer. It is caused by changes in the amount of sunlight and biological clocks that can cause disturbances in sleep, eating habits and mood. Antidepressants, light therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy can ease symptoms of seasonal depression.

Researchers aren't quite sure what causes SAD. They believe that less sunlight causes brain chemicals to change which can trigger depression. SAD patients are more likely than others to be suffering from mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder or major depression. They could be also at risk due to the family history signs of being depressed mental health conditions such as depression or schizophrenia.

Serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood, is often lower in those with SAD winter-pattern. Low levels of serotonin can affect sleep and the ability to concentrate and cause sadness. People with summer-pattern SAD may have lower levels of melatonin, which can impact sleep patterns and cause depression symptoms.

The symptoms of SAD are depression, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and losing interest in the activities you normally enjoy. You might withdraw from family and friends during the winter months, or lose weight in order to cope with the negative emotions. You may also start to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical problem that requires immediate attention.

Talk therapy can assist SAD sufferers recover from depression through the modification of negative thoughts and behaviors. In sessions of psychotherapy, your therapist will ask questions and encourage you to pay attention to how you respond to difficult situations. Then, you'll collaborate to come up with ways to deal with these situations in a different manner.

Psychotherapy is most effective when it's customized for a specific problem, for instance, SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising treatments available for SAD. CBT was developed by Aaron Beck in the 1960s. It is built on Albert Ellis’ rational emotive behavior therapy. It focuses on transforming harmful patterns of "emotional reasoning" that lead to depression.

Light therapy

Many people feel tired, slow and depressed when the seasons change. These feelings are more serious than the "winter's blues" and can lead to depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you're suffering from this disorder, simple lifestyle changes can ease symptoms and restore your normal mood.

Bright light therapy, or phototherapy, has been shown to reduce symptoms of SAD as well as other conditions that affect your mood. A daily use of an e-lamp or full-spectrum light during the early morning hours can alleviate symptoms. Light therapy helps increase serotonin production, an organic chemical that improves your mood and helps you stay alert. It can also prevent the decline in your circadian rhythm, the internal clock in your body that regulates sleep cycles, as well as other vital functions.

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 amount of light as outside on a clear day in July. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you sit or stand in front of the device for 30 minutes every day, starting in the morning.

There may be some eye strain or headaches while using the light, however these effects usually go away by adjusting the intensity of the light and distance between you and the light source. It is important to use a light box that filters out the harmful ultraviolet rays that could harm your eyes and the skin. You can buy a lightbox from your healthcare provider or find one on the Internet, but make sure that it's approved by a medical professional to treat SAD.

It is essential to inform your healthcare provider if you have bipolar disorder or another mental health issue, as in some individuals bright light therapy or antidepressants can trigger a manic episode. The risk can be reduced by utilizing these treatments under the guidance of a psychiatrist.