The Best Seasonal Depression Symptoms Gurus Are Doing Three Things
Seasonal Depression Symptoms
SAD is characterized by sadness or a deficiency in the enjoyment of everyday activities. They may lose interest in family and friends and may sleep more or have difficulty getting up. They also have a craving for carbohydrates, which give the body an instant boost of energy.
Less sunlight in fall and winter can affect the brain pathways that regulate mood. Some people have mild symptoms, whereas others suffer from symptoms that are severe enough to disrupt relationships and work.
Treatment
There are many options for treatment. Psychotherapy, light therapy and medications can aid people with SAD. Simple changes can also help to relieve symptoms and improve mood.
SAD can be severe or mild. It can lead to changes in the person's appetite, energy levels and concentration. Some people suffering from SAD might feel irritable and angry more often. They may also have trouble in concentrating or making decisions. Certain sufferers of SAD experience difficulty sleeping, which could cause them to lose energy throughout the day. The changing seasons can trigger symptoms of SAD. The shorter daylight hours in the fall and winter can alter a person's biological rhythms. This can reduce serotonin levels and increase Melatonin. This can increase sleepiness or cause depression.
People with SAD frequently feel sad or depressed at a specific time of year. The symptoms typically manifest in winter or the fall and then they feel better in spring. They may also experience moments of elation or feeling high in the summer. People with SAD may have more depression symptoms checklist episodes than other people. SAD may be confused with other mood disorders. It is crucial to obtain an medical diagnosis.
CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is a highly effective treatment option for SAD. CBT is a form of psychotherapy that teaches people how to challenge and change unhelpful thinking. CBT for SAD is focused on changing negative thoughts about the season to more positive ones. It also assists people in finding enjoyable activities to counteract the loss of interest they usually experience in the summer or winter.
It's unclear how effective herbal remedies or supplements are for SAD. Many herbal remedies and supplements do not have the same level of regulation as medications. They can cause serious problems when they interact with prescription medications. Talk to your healthcare provider prior to taking any dietary or herbal supplements.
Medication
The symptoms of seasonal depression disorder are more severe than a few "winter blues." If you are suffering from these changes in mood each year, at the same time, your GP can help you identify and manage your symptoms. Treatment options include psychotherapy, light therapy and medications.
Many people suffering from winter-pattern SAD have depressive disorder symptoms episodes that come and go each year in the fall and winter. These episodes can be associated with a lack of energy, increased appetite and an appetite for starchy foods along with sleep disruption and weight increase. These symptoms can cause you to feel hopeless or depressed, and may even lead to suicide in severe cases.
In addition to antidepressants certain people suffering from SAD benefit by taking a dopamine inhibitor like bupropion. This medication balances your serotonin levels and dopamine levels, which can reduce the tendency to be anxious and lethargic. This is a relatively new kind of antidepressant that has been approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat SAD.
Your GP will prescribe the best medication option for you based on your specific symptoms and the severity of your illness. They might suggest starting antidepressants during 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 light box or lamp to simulate sunlight and encourage the release of serotonin.
It's important that you know that, while many people suffering from SAD experience a deficiency in vitamin D, there's no evidence to support this as a cause for their disease. You can improve your health by eating a healthy diet and spending enough time in the sunlight.
SAD can be a very difficult condition and the symptoms can appear to last for a long period of time. But it is crucial to understand that there are many treatments available for this condition. with the assistance of your GP and a variety of treatments, you can beat the symptoms and resume a normal 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 manifests in the winter and fall and gets better during the spring and summer. It is caused by changes in the amount of sunlight and biological clocks, which may affect sleep, eating habits and mood. Seasonal depression can be treated 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 sufferers are more likely than others to be suffering from mental disorders, like bipolar disorder or major depressive symptoms depression. They could also be at risk due to a family history of mental health problems like schizophrenia or depression.
Serotonin, a chemical in the brain that regulates mood, is usually less in people who have SAD winter-pattern. Low levels of serotonin can affect sleep and the ability to think clearly and can cause sadness. People with summer-related SAD may have lower levels of melatonin which can affect sleep patterns and cause depression-related symptoms.
SAD symptoms include low energy, sadness problems with concentration, sadness, and a loss of enthusiasm for the activities you usually like. In certain instances you may cut off contact with family and friends during the cold, dark months or shed weight to manage your negative emotions. You may also begin to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical problem that requires immediate attention.
Talk therapy can help those suffering from SAD overcome depression by changing unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors. During sessions, your therapist might ask you questions and help you pay attention to the way you react to difficult situations. Then, you will work together to come up with new ways to deal with these situations.
Psychotherapy is most effective when it's targeted to a specific problem 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 built on Albert Ellis’ rational emotive behaviour therapy. It focuses on changing destructive patterns of "emotional reasoning" that lead to depression.
Light therapy
Many people feel exhausted, sluggish and depressed as the seasons change. For some, these symptoms are more severe than a typical case of the "winter blues," and can lead to depression known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD. If you suffer from this disorder, a few simple lifestyle changes and the assistance of medication or psychotherapy can relieve your symptoms and restore your mood back to normal.
Bright light therapy, or phototherapy, has been proven to help alleviate symptoms of SAD, as well as other conditions that affect your mood. A morning routine of using a full spectrum light or light box can reduce symptoms. Light therapy boosts serotonin production, a natural chemical that boosts your mood. It also helps prevent the deterioration of your circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock in your body that regulates sleep cycles, and other important functions.
The most effective results for SAD can be achieved by using a specific device that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, about the same brightness as being outside on a clear day in July. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you sit or stand in front of the device for 30 minutes every day, beginning in the morning.
If you are suffering from headaches or eye strain and headaches, you can alter the intensity and distance between the light source and you. It's important to use a light box that blocks harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause damage to your eyes and the skin. You can purchase a light box through your doctor or locate one on the Internet, but make sure that it's approved by a medical professional to treat SAD.
It is essential to inform your healthcare professional if you have bipolar disorder or another mental health issue, as for some people treatment with bright light therapy or antidepressants can trigger a manic episode. These risks can be reduced through these treatments under the guidance early signs of mental health issues a physician.