Seasonal Depression Symptoms

As with other types of depression, people suffering from SAD feel depressed or have a feeling of sadness in their everyday activities. They might lose interest in family and friends, sleep more often or have difficulty getting up, and crave carbohydrates that provide quick energy.

In the fall and winter can alter brain pathways that regulate mood. Some people have mild symptoms, while others have symptoms serious enough to disrupt relationships and work.

Treatment

The good news is that treatment options are available. People with SAD can benefit from light therapy, psychotherapy and medications. They also can make simple adjustments that can ease their symptoms and improve their mood.

SAD can be mild or severe. It can cause changes in a person's energy levels, appetite, and concentration. Some people who have SAD may experience irritability or angry more easily. They may also experience difficulty in concentrating or making decisions. Some sufferers of SAD suffer from sleep problems, which can cause them to lack energy throughout the daytime. The changing seasons can trigger symptoms of SAD. The shorter daylight hours during the winter and fall seasons can affect a person's biological rhythms. Serotonin levels can drop and increase the hormone melatonin. This may cause sleepiness and cause depression.

People who have SAD often report feeling down or sad at certain times of the year. They usually have these symptoms during winter or autumn months and are more comfortable in spring. They may also experience moments of elation, or feeling high in the summertime. SAD sufferers might experience more episodes of depression. SAD can be confused with other mood disorders. It's crucial to seek medical advice.

CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is an effective treatment option for SAD. CBT is a form of psychotherapy that teaches individuals how to challenge and change thoughts that are not helpful. CBT for SAD concentrates on replacing negative thoughts associated with the season and replacing them with more positive ones. It also assists people in finding enjoyable activities to counteract the lack of interest they experience during the summer or winter.

It's not clear what the effectiveness of herbal remedies or supplements can be for SAD. Many herbal remedies and supplements do not have the same degree of regulation as medications. They may interact with certain prescription medications and cause serious issues. Talk to your healthcare professional prior to taking any herbal or dietary supplements.

Medication

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

Winter-pattern SAD is defined by depressive episodes that happen each year during the winter and fall seasons. These episodes can be caused by fatigue, an increased appetite and a desire for starchy food and sleep disturbances, as well as weight growth. These symptoms can trigger feelings of hopelessness, despair and even suicidal thoughts in the most severe instances.

Some people with SAD might benefit from taking a bupropion, a dopamine-inhibitor. This medication helps balance your serotonin levels and dopamine levels to reduce the possibility warning signs of depression being anxious and lethargic. This is a relatively brand new type of antidepressant that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be used in the treatment physical signs of being depressed SAD.

Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication for you depending on your symptoms and severity. They will likely recommend that you begin antidepressants before the symptoms of seasonal depression usually begin each year, and then continue taking them until spring. Based on the specific symptoms you experience they might also suggest that you utilize a light box or lamp to simulate sunlight and stimulate the release of serotonin.

It's important that you know that, although many people suffering from SAD suffer from a lack of vitamin D, there's no evidence to suggest this as the reason behind the disease. You can improve your health by consuming a healthy diet and spending enough time in the sunshine.

SAD can be very challenging and the physical symptoms of being depressed can appear to last for a long period of time. It is important to know that there are numerous treatments for this condition. With the help recognizing early signs of depression your GP you can get rid of symptoms and get back to an ordinary 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 kind of depression that is seen in the fall and winter and improves in the spring and summer. It is caused by changes in the amount of sunlight exposure and biological rhythms that can affect sleep, eating mood and behavior. The treatment for seasonal depression is with antidepressants, cognitive therapy and light therapy.

Researchers don't know what causes SAD. They believe that a lack of sunlight causes brain chemicals to change which can trigger depression. People suffering from SAD are more likely to suffer from other mental health problems such as major Depression symptoms in males and bipolar disorder. They also may be at risk because of family history, like a relative who has depression or schizophrenia.

Serotonin, a chemical in the brain that regulates mood, is usually lower in those with SAD winter-pattern. Serotonin levels that are low can affect sleep and the ability to think clearly and lead to sadness. Melatonin levels could be lower in people with SAD summer-pattern. This can alter sleeping patterns and lead to depression-like symptoms.

SAD symptoms include sadness, low energy, difficulty concentrating and loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy. You may be unable to connect with family and friends during the winter months, or lose weight in order to cope with negative emotions. You may also begin to feel suicidal and this is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate attention.

Talk therapy can help SAD sufferers overcome depression by changing negative thoughts and behaviors. In sessions of psychotherapy, your therapist will ask questions and encourage you to be attentive to 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 effective when it's tailored to a specific issue for instance, SAD. One of the most promising treatments for SAD is known as cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT. CBT was invented by Aaron Beck in the 1960s. It is built on Albert Ellis’ rational emotive behaviour therapy. It focuses on transforming destructive patterns of "emotional reasoning" that lead to depression.

Light therapy

Many people feel tired, slow and depressed as the seasons change. These feelings are more serious than "winter's blues" and may lead to depression, which is also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you suffer from this disorder, simple lifestyle changes can ease symptoms and restore your normal mood.

Bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, has been found to reduce symptoms of SAD and other conditions that influence your mood. A morning routine of using a full-spectrum light or light box can help reduce symptoms. Light therapy boosts serotonin production, a natural chemical that improves your mood. It also helps prevent a decrease in your circadian clock, the internal clock in your body that regulates sleep cycles.

The most effective results for SAD can be achieved by using a special device that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, roughly the same brightness as outside on an uncloudy day in July. Your doctor may recommend that you sit or stand in front of the device for 30 minutes every day, beginning in the morning.

There may be some headaches or eye strain while using the light source, however these effects will usually disappear if you adjust the intensity of the light and distance between you and the light source. Use a light box with filters that block harmful ultraviolet rays. These radiations can cause damage to your eyes and skin. You can buy a lightbox from your doctor, or you can find one on the internet. Be sure to ensure that it's medically approved to treat SAD.

It is essential to inform your healthcare professional that you suffer from bipolar disorder or another mental health issue, as in some individuals treatment with bright light therapy or antidepressants could trigger a manic episode. These risks can be mitigated by utilizing these treatments under the guidance of a medical professional.