Seasonal Depression Symptoms
As with other types of depression, people with SAD may experience sadness or feeling of sadness in their daily activities. They may lose interest in family and friends, sleep more or have trouble waking up, and are in search of carbohydrates that provide quick energy.
The brain’s pathways for regulating mood can be affected by the lack of sunlight during the fall and winter months. Some people have mild symptoms, whereas others suffer from symptoms that are severe enough to interfere with relationships and work.
Treatment
The good news is that treatment options are readily available. Psychotherapy, light therapy and medication can help those suffering from SAD. They can also make simple adjustments that can ease symptoms and improve mood.
SAD can be mild, moderate or even severe. It can lead to changes in the person’s energy levels, appetite and concentration. Some people with SAD may experience irritability or angry more frequently. They may also have difficulty taking decisions and concentrating. Certain people with SAD suffer from sleep problems and this can cause them to lack energy throughout the daytime. Symptoms of SAD can be triggered by the change in seasons. The shorter daylight hours during the winter and fall months can alter a person’s biological rhythms. This can reduce serotonin levels and increase Melatonin. This can increase sleepiness or cause depression.
People with SAD frequently report feeling down or sad at a certain time of the year. These symptoms usually occur in winter or fall, and they feel better in spring. In the summer, they may experience episodes where they feel elevated or euphoric. SAD patients may have more depression-related episodes. SAD may be confused with other mood disorders. It’s crucial to seek an medical diagnosis.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment for SAD. CBT is a type of psychotherapy that helps people to challenge and change unhelpful thoughts. CBT for SAD concentrates on replacing negative thoughts about the season and replacing them with 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 don’t have the same level of control as prescription drugs. They may interact with certain prescription drugs and cause serious health issues. Talk to your healthcare professional prior to taking any herbal or dietary supplements.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal identifying depression symptoms are much more serious than the occasional “winter blues.” Your GP can identify and treat these symptoms if you experience them every year at the same time. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy, and medication.
Many people with winter-pattern SAD have depression-like episodes that come and go throughout the year in the winter and fall. These episodes can be associated with a lack of energy and a greater appetite and a craving for starchy food and sleep disturbances, as well as weight gain. These symptoms can lead you to feel hopeless, despair and even suicidal in extreme cases.
In addition to antidepressants, some people with SAD benefit from taking a dopamine-inhibitor like bupropion. This medication helps to regulate your levels of serotonin and dopamine and reduces the tendency to feel lethargic and anxious. This is a relatively new type of antidepressant that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be used in treating SAD.
Your doctor will recommend the best medication option for you based on your specific symptoms and severity of illness. They will likely recommend that you begin antidepressants prior to when the symptoms of seasonality usually begin every year, and keep taking them until spring. Based on the specific symptoms you experience they might also suggest that you utilize a light box or lamp to mimic sunlight and stimulate the release of serotonin.
It’s important to note that even though many people suffering from SAD feel an absence of vitamin D but there isn’t any evidence of this being the reason of their illness. You can improve your health by eating nutritious food and spending enough time outdoors in the sunshine.
SAD can be a very difficult condition and the symptoms can appear to persist for a long time. However, it is important to understand that there are many treatments for this condition. with the help of your GP, you can overcome your symptoms and return to your 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 is common in fall and winter, and improves during the spring and summer. It is caused by changes to sunlight exposure and biological clocks, which can affect sleep, eating habits and mood. Antidepressants, light therapy and cognitive behavioral symptoms of depression therapy can help improve symptoms of seasonal depression.
Researchers aren’t sure what causes SAD. They believe that a lack of sunlight causes brain chemicals to change that can lead to depression. People with SAD are more likely to suffer from other mental health problems such as bipolar disorder and major depression. They may also be at risk because of family history, such as relatives with schizophrenia or depression.
People with winter-pattern SAD typically have lower levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which regulates mood. Serotonin levels that are low can affect sleep, the ability to concentrate and lead to sadness. Melatonin levels could be lower in people who have SAD summer-pattern. This can affect sleep patterns and trigger feelings of depression.
The symptoms of SAD are sadness, low energy and difficulty concentrating, as well as an absence of interest in the activities that you normally enjoy. In some cases you may decide to be unable to connect with family and friends during the dark, snowy months or lose weight as a way to manage your negative emotions. You might also begin to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical issue that requires immediate attention.
Talk therapy can help SAD sufferers overcome young adult depression symptoms through the modification of bad habits of thinking and behavior. During sessions, your therapist might ask you questions or suggest that you pay attention to the way you react to stressful situations. Then, you’ll discuss strategies to handle these situations differently.
Psychotherapy is most effective when it is specifically tailored to a particular issue such as SAD. One of the most promising treatments for SAD is called cognitive behavior therapy or CBT. CBT was invented by Aaron Beck in the 1960s. It is based on Albert Ellis’ rational emotive behavior therapy. It focuses on changing harmful patterns of “emotional reasoning” that can lead to depression.
Light therapy
Many people feel tired, sluggish and depressed as the seasons change. For some, these feelings are more severe than a typical situation of “winter blues” and can cause depression known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. If you are suffering from this disorder it is possible to make a few minor lifestyle changes and the help of psychotherapy or medication can relieve your symptoms and restore your mood to normal.
Research has shown that bright light therapy, also referred to as phototherapy, can alleviate symptoms signs of depression relapse SAD and other conditions affecting your mood. Utilizing light boxes or specialized full-spectrum lighting in the early symptoms of depression – Click To See More, morning hours can help alleviate your symptoms. Light therapy works by increasing your production of serotonin, natural chemical that increases your mood and helps you stay alert. It also helps prevent a dip in your circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock in your body that regulates sleep cycles and other important functions.
The best results can be obtained with a device that 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 doctor may suggest that you sit or stand in front of the device for 30 minutes per day, beginning in the morning.
You might experience eye strain or headaches while using the light source, however these effects usually go away if you adjust the intensity of the light as well as 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 cause damage to your eyes and the skin. You can buy a lightbox from your healthcare provider or find one online. Make sure it is medically approved to treat SAD.
Inform your healthcare provider if bipolar disorder, or any other mental health symptoms condition you suffer from. Bright light therapy, or antidepressants can cause manic episodes in some people. These risks can be mitigated by utilizing these treatments under the guidance of a medical professional.