Why Seasonal Depression Symptoms Is Right For You

Seasonal Depression Symptoms

Similar to other forms of depression, people with SAD may experience sadness or lack of enjoyment in everyday activities. They may lose interest in families and friends, fall asleep more often or have difficulty getting up, and are in search signs of emotional distress carbohydrates that provide quick energy.

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

Treatment

There are a variety of treatment options available. People suffering from SAD can benefit from light therapy, psychotherapy and medications. They can also make small changes that can help relieve their symptoms and improve their mood.

SAD can be mild or severe. It can affect a person's concentration, energy level and appetite. Some people suffering from SAD might be more angry and irritable easily. They may also have trouble taking decisions or concentrating. Certain people with SAD have trouble sleeping, which may cause them to be deficient in energy throughout the daytime. Symptoms of SAD can be caused by the change in seasons. The shorter daylight hours during the fall and winter can affect a person's biological rhythms. This can reduce serotonin levels and increase melatonin. This can cause insomnia or cause clinical depression symptoms.

People who have SAD often feel sad or depressed at a certain time of the year. These symptoms typically occur in the fall or winter, and they feel better in spring. They may also experience moments of elation, or feeling high in the summertime. People with SAD might experience more depression episodes than other people. SAD can be confused with other mood disorders. It is essential to get medical advice.

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 unhelpful thinking. CBT for SAD focuses primarily on changing negative thoughts about the season to more positive ones. It also helps people find enjoyable activities to combat the loss of interest they typically have in the summer or winter months.

It's not clear what the efficacy of herbal remedies or supplements are for SAD. Many herbal remedies and dietary supplements don't have the same level of regulation as medications. They can interact with certain prescription drugs and cause serious problems. Consult your healthcare provider prior to taking any herbal or dietary supplement.

Medication

The symptoms of seasonal depression are more serious than a few "winter blues." Your GP can help diagnose and treat these symptoms if you experience them every year at the same time. Treatment options include psychotherapy, light therapy and medication.

Many people with winter-pattern SAD have depressive Disorder symptoms episodes that come and go throughout the year in the winter and fall. These episodes can be accompanied by a lack energy and appetite and a craving for food that is starchy as well as sleep disturbances and weight gain. These symptoms can lead to feelings of despair, hopelessness and even suicidal thoughts in most severe instances.

In addition to antidepressants, some people with SAD benefit by taking a dopamine inhibitor like bupropion. This medication can help balance your serotonin and dopamine levels, reducing the feeling of being depressed and anxious. This is a relatively new kind of antidepressant which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use to treat SAD.

Your doctor will prescribe the right medication for you, according to your symptoms and degree of severity. They might suggest that you start antidepressants in the fall before the symptoms of seasonal depression typically begin every year and continue to take them until spring. Based on your specific symptoms they might also suggest that you use a lightbox or lamp to mimic sunlight and stimulate the release of serotonin.

It is important to know that, even though many people suffering from SAD experience a deficiency in vitamin D, there is no evidence to suggest this as the cause of the disease. You can improve your health by consuming a healthy diet and spending time in the sunlight.

SAD can be extremely challenging and the symptoms may seem to persist for a long time. It is important to know that there are many ways to treat this condition. With the help of your GP you can get rid of symptoms and resume a normal lifestyle. 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 is more severe in the spring and summer. It is caused by changes in sunlight exposure and biological clocks, which may disrupt sleep, eating and mood. Antidepressants, light therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can ease symptoms of seasonal depression.

Researchers aren't certain what causes SAD. But they think that less sunlight triggers a change in the chemical in the brain that can lead to depression. SAD patients are more likely than others to suffer from other mental health warning signs conditions, such as bipolar disorder or major depression. They could also be susceptible due to the family history of mental health problems, such as depression or schizophrenia.

Serotonin, a chemical in the brain that regulates mood, is often less in people who have SAD winter-pattern. Serotonin levels that are low can affect sleep and the ability to think clearly and can cause sadness. People with summer-pattern SAD might have lower melatonin levels, which can alter sleeping patterns and trigger depression-related symptoms.

SAD symptoms include depression, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy. In some instances, you might withdraw from friends and family during the dark, snowy months or shed weight to manage your emotional turmoil. You might also begin to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical problem that requires immediate attention.

Talk therapy can help people with SAD overcome their depression by changing negative thought patterns and behavior. In psychotherapy sessions, your therapist will ask questions and help you to be aware of your reactions to difficult situations. You will then work together to discover new ways to handle these situations.

Psychotherapy is most effective when it is tailored to a specific issue, such as SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising treatments for SAD. CBT was invented 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 lead to depression.

Light therapy

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

Bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, has been proven to reduce symptoms of SAD as well as other conditions that affect your mood. The daily use of light boxes or specialized full-spectrum light during the early morning hours can help alleviate symptoms. Light therapy works by increasing your production of serotonin, an organic chemical that improves your mood and boosts your alertness. It also helps prevent a decrease in your circadian clock, which is the internal clock in your body that regulates sleep cycles.

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

There may be some eye strain or headaches while using the light, but these effects typically disappear when you alter the intensity of the light and the distance between you and the light source. Use a light box with filters that block harmful ultraviolet radiation. These radiations can cause damage to your skin and eyes. 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 for treatment of SAD.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have bipolar disorder, or any other mental illness, you have. Bright light therapy, or antidepressants can cause manic episodes in some people. These risks can be mitigated by using these treatments under the guidance of a psychiatrist.