Seasonal Depression Symptoms

Similar to other forms of depression, people suffering from SAD experience sadness or a lack of enjoyment in everyday activities. They may become less interested in their family and friends, sleep more, or have trouble getting up, and are in search of carbohydrates which give the body rapid energy.

The brain's pathways for regulating mood can be affected by the absence of sunlight during winter and fall. Some people experience mild symptoms, while others suffer from symptoms that are severe enough to affect relationships and work.

Treatment

The good news is that treatment options are available. Psychotherapy, light therapy and medication can help people with SAD. They can also make small adjustments that can ease their symptoms and improve their mood.

SAD can be severe or mild. It can cause changes in a person's energy levels, appetite and concentration. Some people with SAD may experience irritability or angry more frequently. They might also have trouble concentrating and making decisions. Some people suffering from SAD have trouble sleeping well and this can cause a lack types of depression energy throughout the daytime. The change in seasons can cause symptoms of SAD. The shorter hours of daylight in the winter and fall seasons can alter a person's biological rhythms. This can decrease serotonin and increase melatonin. This can lead to sleepiness or depression.

People suffering from SAD experience feeling depressed or sad at a certain time of the year. These Symptoms Of Severe Depressive Episode usually occur in winter or the fall and then they feel better in spring. They may also experience a feeling of elation or feeling awestruck in the summertime. SAD patients may experience more episodes of depression. SAD is often confused with other mood disorders. It is essential to get an evaluation from a health professional.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment for SAD. CBT is a form of psychotherapy that teaches people how to challenge and alter unhelpful thinking. CBT for SAD focuses on changing negative thoughts related to the season with more helpful ones. It assists people in finding fun activities to counteract their lack of interest during the summer or winter.

It's unclear how effective herbal remedies or supplements can be for SAD. Many herbal remedies and dietary supplements aren't regulated the similar way medications are. They can interact with certain prescription drugs and cause serious health issues. Consult your doctor before taking any dietary or herbal supplements.

Medication

The symptoms of seasonal depression disorder are more severe than a few "winter blues." If you experience these changes in mood each year, at the same time your GP can help diagnose and treat your symptoms. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy and medication.

Many people with winter-pattern SAD experience depression-like episodes that come and go each year in the winter and fall. These episodes can be caused by a lack energy, an increase in appetite and an increased desire for starchy food along with sleep disruption and weight increase. These symptoms can trigger feelings of hopelessness, despair and even suicidal ideas in the most severe cases.

Certain people suffering from SAD may benefit from taking bupropion, a dopamine inhibitor. This medication regulates serotonin levels and dopamine levels, which can reduce the likelihood of becoming irritable and lethargic. This is a relatively new kind of antidepressant which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be used to treat SAD.

Your doctor will prescribe the right medication for you according to your symptoms and severity. They may recommend that you start antidepressants before seasonal symptoms usually start every year, and keep taking them until spring. They may also suggest using a lamp or light box to simulate sunlight, which will encourage serotonin release.

It's important that you know that, even though many people suffering from SAD experience a deficiency in vitamin D, there's no evidence to suggest this as the cause of their disease. However, making sure your diet is full of healthy foods and spend enough time outdoors to expose yourself to sunlight can aid in reducing.

SAD is a difficult condition to manage, and symptoms can last an extended time. It is essential to know that there are a variety of treatments available for this condition. with the help of your GP and a variety of treatments, you can beat your depressive symptoms checklist and return to 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

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that is seen in winter and fall and gets better during the spring and summer. It is caused by changes in the amount of sunlight exposure and biological rhythms that can alter sleep, eating habits mood and behavior. The treatment for seasonal depression is with antidepressants, cognitive symptoms of depression behavioral therapy and light therapy.

Researchers don't know the cause of SAD. They believe that less sunlight triggers brain chemicals to change which lead to depression. SAD patients are more likely than other people to be suffering from mental conditions, such as major depression or bipolar disorder. They may also be at risk because of family history, like a relative who has schizophrenia or depression.

Serotonin, a chemical in the brain that regulates mood, is usually lower in those with SAD winter-pattern. Low levels of this chemical may cause problems with sleeping and thinking clearly, as well as feeling sad. People with summer-pattern SAD may have lower levels of melatonin which can affect sleeping patterns and trigger depression-related symptoms.

SAD symptoms include low energy, sadness, difficulty concentrating, and a decrease in enthusiasm for the activities you normally like. You may cut off contact with your family and friends during cold, dark winter months or lose weight in order to cope with the negative emotions. You may also begin to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical issue that requires immediate attention.

Talk therapy can help SAD sufferers overcome depression through the modification of bad habits of thinking and behavior. In sessions with your therapist, they will ask you questions and encourage you to be aware of how you react in difficult situations. Then, you will work together to develop ways to approach 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 in the 1960s. It is based on Albert Ellis’ rational emotive behavior therapy. It focuses on transforming harmful patterns of "emotional reasoning" that cause depression.

Light therapy

With the change of seasons, many people feel sluggish, tired and down in the dumps. These feelings can be more serious than the "winter's blues" and lead to depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you are suffering from this condition it is possible to make a few minor lifestyle changes, as well as the help of psychotherapy or medication can alleviate your symptoms and bring your mood to normal.

Bright light therapy, or phototherapy, has been found to improve symptoms of SAD as well as other conditions that influence your mood. Early morning use signs of depression in teens a full spectrum light or light box can help alleviate symptoms. Light therapy helps increase the production of serotonin natural chemical that increases your mood and helps you stay alert. It also helps prevent the deterioration of your circadian rhythm, the body's internal clock that controls sleep cycles, as well as other vital functions.

The most effective results for SAD are achieved through an instrument that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, around the same brightness as being outside on clear days 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.

If you suffer from eye strain or headaches or headaches, you can adjust the intensity and distance between the light source and you. It is important to utilize a light box that blocks harmful ultraviolet rays which can harm your eyes and the skin. You can purchase a light box from your healthcare provider or find one on the Internet, but make sure it's medically approved to treat SAD.

You should tell your doctor that you suffer from bipolar disorder or another mental health problem, as for some people treatment with bright light therapy or antidepressants could cause a manic episode. These risks can be reduced by utilizing these treatments under the guidance of a doctor.