Seasonal Depression Symptoms

SAD is characterised by sadness or a lack in enjoyment of daily activities. They may lose interest in family and friends, sleep more often or have difficulty getting up, and crave carbohydrates which give the body rapid energy.

The brain's mood-regulating pathways can be affected by the lack of sunlight during autumn and winter. Some people experience mild symptoms, while others experience symptoms that are so severe as to cause problems in relationships and at work.

Treatment

There are many treatments available. Patients suffering from SAD can benefit from psychotherapy, light therapy and medications. Simple changes can also help to relieve symptoms and improve mood.

SAD can be mild, moderate or even severe. It can affect someone's concentration and energy level as well as appetite. Some people who have SAD may feel irritable or angry more frequently. They may also have trouble concentrating and making decisions. Certain people with SAD have trouble sleeping well which can result in an inability to focus throughout the daytime. Symptoms of SAD can be caused by the changing seasons. The shorter daylight in the winter and fall seasons can alter a person's biological rhythms. Serotonin levels can drop and increase the hormone melatonin. This could cause insomnia or depression.

People with SAD frequently complain of feeling sad or depressed at certain times of the year. These symptoms typically occur in winter or fall and then they feel better in spring. In the summer, they can also have episodes where they feel happy or high. People suffering from SAD may have more depression symptoms checklist episodes than other people. SAD can be confused with other mood disorders. It is essential to get an medical diagnosis.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment for SAD. CBT is a kind of psychotherapy which teaches people how to challenge and change negative thinking. CBT for SAD is focused on changing negative thoughts associated with the season with more helpful ones. It assists people to find enjoyable activities to combat their loss of interest in the summer or winter months.

It's not clear 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 could cause serious problems when they interact with prescription medications. Talk to your healthcare provider prior to taking any herbal or dietary supplements.

Medication

The symptoms of seasonal recognizing depression symptoms are more serious than a few "winter blues." If you suffer from these mood swings throughout the year at the same time you GP can assist in diagnosing and treat your symptoms. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy, and medications.

Winter-pattern SAD is defined by depressive episodes that occur each year during the winter and fall. These episodes are often accompanied by a lack of energy, an increase in appetite and an appetite for starchy foods as well as sleep disturbance and weight gain. These symptoms can cause you to feel hopeless, despair and even suicidal in extreme instances.

In addition to antidepressants, certain people suffering from SAD benefit from taking a dopamine-inhibitor like bupropion. This medication regulates serotonin levels and dopamine levels to lessen the likelihood of becoming anxious and lethargic. This is a relatively new antidepressant that has been approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat SAD.

Your doctor will prescribe the best medication for you, based on your symptoms and degree of severity. They might suggest that you start antidepressants in the fall before your symptoms that are seasonal start each year, and continue to take them until spring. They might also suggest that you use the light box or lamp to simulate sunlight, which can encourage serotonin to release.

It is important to remember that even though many people suffering from SAD feel an absence of vitamin D but there isn't any evidence of this being the cause of their illness. However, ensuring that your diet is rich in healthy foods and that you spend sufficient time outside to get exposed to sunlight can help.

SAD is a difficult condition to deal with and symptoms can last a long while. It is important to know that there are a variety of ways to treat this condition. With the assistance of your GP you can conquer symptoms and get back to 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

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a kind of depression that manifests in the winter and fall and improves in the spring and summer. It is caused by changes to the amount of sunlight and biological clocks that can cause disturbances in sleep, eating habits and mood. The treatment for seasonal depression is with antidepressants, cognitive therapy and light therapy.

Researchers aren't sure the cause of SAD. They believe that less sunlight triggers a change in the chemical in the brain that leads to depression. SAD patients are more likely than other people to suffer from other mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder or major depression. They also may be at risk due to family history, such as a relative who has schizophrenia or depression.

People with winter-pattern SAD generally have lower levels of the chemical in the brain called serotonin, which regulates mood. Low levels of this chemical may cause sleep problems and thinking clearly, as well as being sad. Melatonin levels may be lower in people with SAD summer-pattern. This can affect sleeping patterns and lead to depression-like feelings.

The symptoms of SAD are sadness, low energy and a lack of concentration. It can also cause a losing interest in the activities you normally enjoy. You may cut off contact with family and friends during the winter months, or lose weight to deal with the negative emotions. You might also start to feel suicidal and this is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

Talk therapy can help SAD sufferers overcome depression through the modification signs of feeling down bad habits of thinking and behavior. During sessions, your therapist will ask you questions and encourage you to be aware of your reactions to difficult situations. Together, you'll work to discover new ways to handle these situations.

Psychotherapy is most successful when it's tailored to a specific issue such as SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising therapies available for SAD. CBT was developed by Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1960s, CBT was based on Albert Ellis' rational emotive behavior therapy. It is focused on changing harmful patterns of "emotional reasoning" that lead to depression.

Light therapy

With the changing of the seasons people can feel tired exhausted, fatigued and depressed. For some, these issues are more severe than a typical condition known as the "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 psychological indicators of depression medication or psychotherapy can help ease your symptoms and return your mood to normal.

Research has demonstrated that bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, can help improve symptoms signs of depression in adults SAD and other conditions affecting your mood. A morning routine of using a full-spectrum light or light box can help alleviate symptoms. Light therapy can boost serotonin levels, a natural chemical which boosts your mood. It can also help prevent the deterioration of your circadian rhythm, the body's internal clock that controls sleep cycles, as well as other vital functions.

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

If you experience headaches or eye strain, you can adjust the intensity and distance between the light source and you. It is important to use a light box that blocks harmful ultraviolet rays that could damage your eyes and skin. You can buy a lightbox from your doctor or locate one on the Internet However, be sure it's medically approved for the treatment of SAD.

It is important to inform your doctor if you have bipolar disorder or any other mental health problem, as for some people treatment with bright light therapy or antidepressants can trigger a manic episode. These risks can be mitigated by utilizing these treatments under the supervision recognizing common signs of depression a psychiatrist.