Seasonal Depression Symptoms

SAD is characterized by sadness or a lack in the enjoyment of everyday activities. They may lose interest with family and friends and may sleep more or have difficulty getting up. They also crave carbohydrates, which give the body immediate energy.

Less sunlight in fall and winter can affect the brain pathways that regulate mood. Some sufferers have mild symptoms while others suffer from symptoms that are so severe as to cause problems in relationships and at work.

Treatment

There are many options for treatment. Psychotherapy, light therapy, and medication can help sufferers with SAD. They can also make small changes that will help ease their symptoms and improve their mood.

SAD can be mild or severe. It can cause changes in the person's energy levels, appetite, and concentration. People with SAD may feel irritable and angry more frequently. They may also have difficulty making decisions and concentrating. Certain sufferers of SAD suffer from sleep problems, which may cause them to be deficient in energy during the day. The change of seasons can cause symptoms of SAD. 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 increase sleepiness or cause depression.

People suffering from SAD experience feeling down or sad at a particular time of the year. The symptoms typically manifest in winter or the fall, and they feel better in the spring. In summer, they may experience episodes where they feel elated or high. People with SAD might experience more episodes of depression than other people. SAD is sometimes confused with other mood disorders. It's important to get an assessment from a medical provider.

CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is a successful treatment option for SAD. CBT is a kind of psychotherapy which teaches people how to confront and change negative thinking. CBT for SAD concentrates on replacing negative thoughts associated with the season to more positive ones. It assists people to find fun activities to counteract their loss of interest in the summer or winter months.

It's not clear how effective herbal remedies or supplements can be for SAD. Many herbal remedies and dietary supplements do not have the same degree of regulation as medications. They can cause serious problems when they interact with prescription medications. Talk to your doctor prior to taking any herbal or dietary supplement.

Medication

The symptoms of seasonal depressive disorder are more serious than just a few "winter blues." If you are suffering from these mood swings every year at the same time your GP can help diagnose and treat your symptoms. Treatment options include psychotherapy, light therapy and medication.

The winter-pattern SAD is defined by depressive episodes that take place each year during the winter and fall. These episodes are often associated with a lack of energy, an increase in appetite and an increased desire for starchy food, sleep disruption and weight growth. These symptoms can trigger feelings of hopelessness, despair and even suicidal ideas in the most extreme cases.

In addition to antidepressants, certain people suffering from SAD benefit from taking a dopamine inhibitor like bupropion. This medication helps balance your serotonin and dopamine levels, reducing the tendency to feel lethargic and angry. This is a relatively new type of antidepressant, which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat SAD.

Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate medication for you, based on your symptoms and the severity. They will probably recommend that you begin antidepressants during the fall before your seasonal symptoms typically begin every year and continue taking them until spring. Based on your specific symptoms, they may also recommend that you utilize a light box or lamp to mimic sunlight and stimulate the release of serotonin.

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

SAD can be extremely challenging, and the symptoms can seem to persist for a long time. It is crucial to understand that there are a variety of treatments for this condition. With the help of your GP you can conquer symptoms and return to regular 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

SAD is a form signs of anxiety and depression depression that occurs in the winter and fall seasons, and improves during the spring and the summer. It is caused by changes to the exposure to sunlight and biological clocks, which can cause disturbances in sleep, eating habits and mood. Antidepressants, light therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can improve symptoms of seasonal depression.

Researchers aren't sure what causes SAD. But they think that less sunlight triggers a change in the chemical in the brain that can lead to depression. People suffering from SAD are more likely to suffer from other mental health issues such as bipolar disorder and major depression. They could also be susceptible due to the family history of mental health problems such as depression or schizophrenia.

People suffering from winter-pattern SAD generally have lower levels of the chemical in the brain called serotonin which regulates mood. Insufficient levels of this chemical could result in problems sleeping and focusing, as well as feeling sad. People with summer-pattern SAD might have lower levels of melatonin which can alter sleep patterns and cause depression physical symptoms of depression.

SAD symptoms include low energy, sadness as well as difficulty concentrating and a loss of interest in the activities you normally like. In some cases you may decide to be unable to connect with family and friends during the cold, dark months or lose weight to cope with your negative emotions. You may also begin to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical issue that requires immediate attention.

Therapy can help people who suffer from SAD overcome their depression by changing unhealthy thought patterns and behavior. In sessions of psychotherapy, your therapist will ask you questions and encourage you to be aware of your reactions to difficult situations. Then, you will collaborate to come up with ways to deal with these situations in a different way.

Psychotherapy is most effective when it is tailored for a specific problem, such as SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising treatments available for SAD. Developed by Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1960s, CBT is based on Albert Ellis' rational emotive behavior therapy. It focuses on reversing the harmful patterns of "emotional reasoning" that can lead to depression.

Light therapy

Many people feel tired, sluggish and depressed as the seasons change. For some, these symptoms are more severe than a typical situation of "winter blues," and can cause depression called seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. If you're suffering from this condition, simple lifestyle changes can ease symptoms and restore your normal mood.

Bright light therapy, or phototherapy, has been shown to reduce symptoms of SAD and other conditions that influence your mood. The early warning signs of depression morning use of a light with a full spectrum or box can help alleviate symptoms. Light therapy boosts serotonin production, a natural chemical that improves your mood. It can also prevent a dip in your circadian rhythm, which is the internal signs of depression clock of your body that regulates sleep cycles, and other important functions.

The best results for SAD are achieved through an instrument that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, about the same amount of light as outside on clear days in July. Your healthcare professional will recommend you sit or stand in front of the device each day for at least 30 minutes beginning in the early Signs of mental Health issues morning, seven days a week.

You might experience headaches or eye strain when using the light source, however these effects typically disappear when you alter the intensity of the light and distance between you and the light source. Make sure you use a light box that has filters that block harmful ultraviolet radiation. These rays can cause damage to your skin and eyes. You can purchase a light box through your healthcare provider or find one on the Internet However, be sure that it's approved by a medical professional for the treatment of SAD.

Inform your doctor if you suffer from you suffer from bipolar disorder or any other mental disorder, you have. Bright light therapy, also known as antidepressants can trigger manic episodes in some individuals. These risks can be mitigated through these treatments under the guidance of a psychiatrist.