Seasonal Depression Symptoms

Like other types of depression, people with SAD experience sadness or a lack of enjoyment in everyday activities. They may lose interest in friends and family members, sleep more, or have difficulty getting up. They also have a craving for carbohydrates, which gives the body instant energy.

The brain's mood-regulating pathways can be affected by the lack of sunlight in autumn and winter. Some people experience mild symptoms, while others experience symptoms that are serious enough to affect relationships and work.

Treatment

There are a variety signs of emotional distress options for treatment. Psychotherapy, light therapy and medications can aid sufferers with SAD. They can also make small changes that can help relieve their symptoms and improve their mood.

SAD can be mild, moderate or even severe. It can lead to changes in the person's energy levels, appetite and concentration. Some people suffering from SAD might feel angry and frustrated more frequently. They may also have difficulty taking decisions or concentrating. Certain people with SAD experience difficulty sleeping and this may cause them to be deficient in energy during the day. The change in seasons can trigger symptoms of SAD. The shorter daylight in the winter and fall seasons can affect a person’s biological rhythms. This can reduce serotonin levels and boost Melatonin levels. This can increase sleepiness or cause depression.

People with SAD report feeling down or sad at a certain time of the year. These symptoms typically occur in winter or the fall, and they feel better in spring. They can also experience episodes of elation or feeling awestruck in the summer. SAD patients may suffer more depressive episodes. SAD may be confused with other mood disorders. It is important to obtain an evaluation from a health provider.

CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is a successful treatment option for SAD. CBT is a type of psychotherapy that teaches people to challenge and change negative thoughts. CBT for SAD is focused on changing negative thoughts associated with the season with more helpful ones. It also assists people to find enjoyable activities to combat the loss of interest they experience during the summer or winter months.

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

Medication

The symptoms of seasonal depression are much more serious than a few "winter blues." If you experience these changes in mood each year at the same time, your GP can help you identify and manage your symptoms. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy, and medications.

Many people with winter-pattern SAD experience depressive episodes that appear and go throughout the year in the fall and winter. These episodes may be associated with a lack of energy, increased appetite and a preference for starchy foods, sleep disruption and weight growth. These symptoms can cause you to feel hopeless or depressed, and may even lead to suicide in severe cases.

Some people with SAD may benefit from taking a bupropion, a dopamine-inhibitor. This medication balances your serotonin levels and dopamine levels to reduce the tendency to be irritable and lethargic. This is a relatively new type of antidepressant which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of SAD.

Your GP will prescribe the best medication for you based on your particular symptoms and severity. They might suggest that you begin antidepressants during the fall before the symptoms recognizing signs of depression in elderly of depression (try these guys) seasonal depression typically begin each year and continue taking them until spring. Based on your specific symptoms they might also suggest that you use a lightbox or lamp to mimic sunlight and encourage the release of serotonin.

It's important to note that although many people with SAD are suffering from a vitamin D deficiency however, there is no evidence of this being the cause of their illness. However, ensuring that your diet is a source of healthy foods and that you spend sufficient time outside to get exposed to sunlight can help.

SAD is a difficult condition to manage, and symptoms can last a long while. It is important to know that there are many treatments for this condition. With the assistance of your GP you can get rid of symptoms and resume 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 form of depression that appears in the winter and fall and improves in the spring and summer. It is caused by changes in the amount of sunlight exposure and biological rhythms which can disrupt sleep, eating mood and behavior. Antidepressants, light therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can help improve symptoms of depression in youth of seasonal depression.

Researchers aren't sure what causes SAD. However, they believe that less sunlight triggers a chemical change in the brain that can lead to depression. People suffering from SAD are more likely to suffer from other mental health conditions such as major depression and bipolar disorder. They may also be at risk due to family history, like someone in the family with schizophrenia or depression.

People suffering from winter-pattern SAD generally have lower levels of the chemical in the brain called serotonin that regulates mood. Low levels of serotonin can affect sleep, the ability to concentrate and cause sadness. Melatonin levels may be lower in people who have SAD summer-pattern. This can alter sleep patterns and trigger feelings of depression symptoms checklist.

SAD symptoms include low energy, sadness as well as difficulty concentrating and a decrease in interest in the activities you normally like. In some cases you may cut off contact with family and friends during the wintery, cold months or lose weight to manage your emotional turmoil. You may also begin to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical problem that requires immediate attention.

Talk therapy can help SAD sufferers overcome their depression through the modification of unhealthy thought patterns and behavior. In sessions with your therapist, they will ask questions and encourage you to be aware of how you respond to difficult situations. Then, you'll discuss ways to approach these situations differently.

Psychotherapy is most effective when it is tailored for a specific problem, such as SAD. One of the most promising treatments for SAD is called cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. 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 and focuses on reversing the harmful patterns of "emotional symptoms of depression reasoning" that can lead to depression.

Light therapy

With the change of seasons many people feel slow exhausted, fatigued and depressed. For some, these feelings are more serious than a typical condition known as the "winter blues," and may lead to depression called seasonal affective disorder or SAD. If you're suffering from this disorder, simple lifestyle changes can ease symptoms and restore your normal mood.

Bright light therapy, or phototherapy, has been shown to help alleviate symptoms of SAD, as well as other conditions that influence your mood. Utilizing an e-lamp or full-spectrum lighting in the early morning hours can alleviate symptoms. Light therapy works by increasing serotonin production, an organic chemical that improves your mood and helps you stay alert. It can also stop a drop in your circadian clock, which is the internal clock of your body that regulates sleep cycles.

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

If you suffer from eye strain or headaches or headaches, you can adjust the intensity and distance between the light source and you. It is important to use a light box that filters out the harmful ultraviolet rays which can damage your eyes and the 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 endorsed to treat SAD.

It is important to inform your healthcare provider if you have bipolar disorder or any other mental health condition, because for some people treatment with bright light therapy or antidepressants may cause a manic episode. These risks can be reduced by using these treatments with the guidance of a medical professional.