Seasonal Depression Symptoms

Like other types of depression, those with SAD feel depressed or have a lack of enjoyment in daily activities. They may lose interest in family members and friends and may sleep more or have difficulty getting up. They also crave carbohydrates, which give the body an instant boost of energy.

The lack of sunlight in autumn and winter can alter brain pathways that help regulate mood. Some people may experience mild symptoms, but others experience symptoms that are serious enough to affect relationships and work.

Treatment

There are a variety of treatments available. Psychotherapy, light therapy, and medication can assist those suffering from SAD. Simple changes can help relieve symptoms and improve mood.

SAD can be mild, moderate or severe. It can affect people’s concentration and energy level as well as appetite. People with SAD may experience irritability or angry more easily. They might also have trouble taking decisions and concentrating. Certain people suffering from SAD experience difficulty sleeping and this could cause them to lose energy during the day. Symptoms of SAD can be caused by the changing seasons. The shorter hours of daylight during winter and fall seasons can affect a person’s biological rhythms. This can lower serotonin levels and increase the level of melatonin. This can cause sleepiness or depression.

People who have SAD often report feeling down or sad at a certain time of the year. They usually have these symptoms during winter or autumn months and are more comfortable in spring. They can also experience episodes of elation, or feeling high in the summer. People with SAD might experience more depression episodes than other people. SAD is often confused with other mood disorders. It’s important to get a diagnosis from a healthcare doctor.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment for SAD. CBT is a type of psychotherapy that teaches individuals how to challenge and alter thoughts that are not helpful. CBT for SAD concentrates on replacing negative thoughts about the season and replacing them with more positive ones. It assists people to find fun activities to counteract their lack of interest during winter or summer.

It’s unclear how effective herbal supplements or remedies are for SAD. Many herbal remedies and supplements do not have the same degree of regulation as medications. They can cause serious problems when they interact with prescription drugs. Talk to your healthcare provider prior to taking any dietary or herbal supplements.

Medication

The symptoms of seasonal depression are much more severe than the occasional “winter blues.” Your GP can identify and treat these symptoms when you experience them throughout the year at the same time. Treatment options include psychotherapy, light therapy and medication.

Many people with winter-pattern SAD suffer from depressive episodes that come and go every year during the fall and winter. These episodes may be accompanied by a lack of energy, an increase in appetite and an appetite for starchy foods, sleep disruption and weight growth. These symptoms can trigger feelings of hopelessness, despair and even suicidal thoughts in the most extreme cases.

Certain people suffering from SAD may benefit from taking bupropion, which is a dopamine-inhibitor. This medication helps balance your serotonin levels and dopamine levels to lessen the tendency to be irritable and lethargic. This is a relatively recent antidepressant that is approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat SAD.

Your physician will prescribe the best medication for you based on your particular symptoms and severity of illness. They may recommend that you start antidepressants before the symptoms of late-life depression of seasonality usually begin each year, and continue taking them until spring. Based on your specific symptoms, they may also recommend that you use a lightbox or lamp to mimic sunlight and encourage the release of serotonin.

It is important to remember that although many people with SAD feel a lack of vitamin D but there isn’t any evidence of this being the reason of their condition. However, ensuring that your diet is full of healthy foods and that you take time in the sun can aid in reducing.

SAD can be extremely challenging, and the symptoms can seem to persist for a long time. It is essential to recognize that there are a variety of treatments for this condition, and with the help of your GP, you can overcome the symptoms and resume living your life normally. 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 signs of mild depression depression that occurs in the fall and winter, and improves during the spring and the summer. It is caused by changes in sunlight exposure and biological rhythms which can alter sleep, eating habits, mood and behavior. Seasonal depression can be treated with antidepressants, cognitive therapy, and light therapy.

Researchers aren’t sure the cause of SAD. They believe that less sunlight triggers a chemical shift in the brain that leads to depression. People suffering from SAD are more likely to have other mental health conditions which include bipolar disorder and major depression symptoms in Males – wrencreek56.bravejournal.net -. They could also be at risk due to family history, like a relative who has schizophrenia or depression.

People with winter-pattern SAD generally have lower levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which regulates mood. Serotonin levels that are low can affect sleep, the ability to think clearly and lead to sadness. People with summer-related SAD might have lower melatonin levels, which can impact sleeping patterns and trigger depression-related symptoms.

SAD symptoms include low energy, sadness as well as difficulty concentrating and a loss of enthusiasm for the activities you normally like. In some cases you may decide to be unable to connect with family and friends during the dark, snowy months or lose weight to deal with your negative emotions. You might also start to feel suicidal and this is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.

Talk therapy can help people who suffer from SAD overcome their depression by changing their negative thinking patterns and behaviors. In the psychotherapy sessions, your therapist will ask questions and help you to pay attention to how you react in difficult situations. Together, you’ll work to come up with new ways to deal with these situations.

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 behavior therapy, or CBT. CBT was created by Aaron Beck in the 1960s. It is based on Albert Ellis’ rational emotive behavior therapy. It focuses on transforming destructive patterns of “emotional reasoning” that can lead to depression.

Light therapy

With the changing of the seasons people can feel tired and tired, and down in the dumps. For some, these issues are more serious than a typical situation of “winter blues” and may lead to depression called seasonal affective disorder or SAD. If you suffer from this condition just a few lifestyle changes and the help of medication or psychotherapy can relieve your symptoms and restore your mood back to normal.

Bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, has been found to reduce symptoms signs of depression in elderly parents SAD and other conditions that influence your mood. A daily use of light boxes or specialized full-spectrum lighting in the early morning hours can alleviate your symptoms. Light therapy helps increase serotonin production, an organic chemical that improves your mood and helps you stay alert. It can also prevent a drop in your circadian clock, the internal clock of your body that regulates sleep cycles.

The best results are achieved by using a device that emits 10,000 Lux of bright white light. This is the same amount of brightness you get outside on a bright day in July. Your healthcare professional will recommend that you stand or sit in the front of the device every day for a minimum of 30 minutes starting in the early morning hours, seven days a week.

If you suffer from eye strain or headaches, you can adjust the intensity and distance between the light source and your. It is essential to utilize a light box that filters out the harmful ultraviolet rays which can cause damage to your eyes and the skin. You can purchase a light box from your physician or find one on the Internet However, be sure it’s medically approved to treat SAD.

Inform your healthcare provider if you have bipolar disorder, or any other mental illness you suffer from. Bright light therapy, or antidepressants can cause manic episodes in certain individuals. These risks can be minimized by utilizing these treatments under the supervision of a psychiatrist.