The Reasons Seasonal Depression Symptoms Isn't As Easy As You Imagine

Seasonal Depression Symptoms

SAD is characterised by sadness or a deficiency in enjoyment of daily activities. They might lose interest in families and friends, fall asleep more often or have difficulty getting up, and are in search of carbohydrates which give the body rapid energy.

In the fall and winter can alter brain pathways that help regulate mood. Some sufferers have mild symptoms while others suffer from symptoms that are so severe as to affect relationships and at work.

Treatment

There are a variety of options for treatment. Patients suffering from SAD can benefit from light therapy, psychotherapy and medications. Simple changes can also aid in relieving symptoms and improve mood.

SAD can be mild, moderate or even severe. It can cause changes in an individual's energy levels, appetite and concentration. People with SAD may feel angry and frustrated more often. They may also have difficulty concentrating or making decisions. Certain sufferers of SAD experience difficulty sleeping and can cause them to lack energy throughout the daytime. The change in seasons can trigger symptoms of SAD. The shorter daylight in the winter and autumn seasons could alter the biological rhythms of a person. This can reduce serotonin levels and increase the hormone melatonin. This can cause insomnia or cause depression.

People with SAD report feeling depressed down or sad at a particular time of the year. They typically experience these symptoms in winter or autumn and are more comfortable in spring. They can also experience episodes of elation or feeling awestruck in the summer. People suffering from SAD might experience more episodes of depression than other people. SAD is often confused with other mood disorders. It is essential to get an evaluation from a health professional.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for SAD. CBT is a kind of psychotherapy that helps people to challenge and change unhelpful thoughts. CBT for SAD is focused on changing negative thoughts about the season to more helpful ones. It also assists people in finding pleasurable activities to offset the loss of interest they experience during the summer or winter months.

It's not known what the efficacy of herbal supplements or remedies are for SAD. Many herbs and dietary supplements aren't regulated the similar way medications are. They may interact with certain prescription drugs and cause serious problems. Consult your doctor before taking any dietary or herbal supplements.

Medication

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

Winter-pattern SAD is defined by depressive episodes that occur each year during the winter and fall seasons. These episodes can be accompanied by a lack energy and a greater appetite, a preference for starchy food as well as sleep disturbances and weight gain. These symptoms can cause you to feel depressed or depressed, and may even lead to suicide in extreme instances.

Some people with SAD might benefit from taking a bupropion, a dopamine-inhibitor. This medication balances your serotonin levels and dopamine levels to reduce the likelihood of becoming 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 to treat SAD.

Your doctor will recommend the best medication for you based on the specific symptoms and the severity of your illness. They'll likely suggest that you begin antidepressants prior to when the symptoms of seasonality usually begin every year, and keep taking them until spring. Based on your specific symptoms they might also suggest that you utilize a light box or lamp to simulate sunlight and stimulate the release of serotonin.

It is important to know that, although many people with SAD suffer from a deficiency of vitamin D, there is no evidence to suggest this as the cause of their disease. You can improve your health by consuming nutritious food and spending enough time outdoors in the sunshine.

SAD can be extremely challenging and the symptoms can appear to persist for a long time. It is essential to understand that there are a variety of ways to treat this condition. With the help 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

SAD is a type of depression that is recognizing depression symptoms common signs of feeling down of depression - sell - in fall and winter and increases during spring and summer. It is caused by changes in sunlight exposure and biological clocks, which can cause disturbances in sleep, eating habits and mood. Seasonal depression can be treated with antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapy, and light therapy.

Researchers aren't quite sure what causes SAD. They believe that a lack of sunlight triggers brain chemical changes which can trigger depression. SAD sufferers are more likely than others to be suffering from mental health signs and symptoms disorders, like bipolar disorder or major depression. They also may be at risk due to family history, for example, someone in the family with depression or schizophrenia.

People with winter-pattern SAD typically have lower levels of the brain chemical serotonin that regulates mood. Low levels of serotonin can affect sleep and the ability to concentrate and lead to sadness. Melatonin levels could be lower in people who have SAD summer-pattern. This can affect sleep patterns and trigger feelings of depression.

SAD symptoms include low energy, sadness as well as difficulty concentrating and a loss of enthusiasm for the activities you normally enjoy. You might be unable to connect with your family and friends during cold, dark winter months or lose weight to deal with negative emotions. You may also begin to feel suicidal and this is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.

Therapy can help people who suffer from SAD overcome their depression by changing unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors. In the sessions with your therapist, they will ask questions and encourage you to be attentive to how you respond to difficult situations. Then, you'll discuss ways to deal with these situations in a different manner.

Psychotherapy is most effective when it's customized to a specific issue, for instance, SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising therapies available for SAD. It was created by Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1960s, CBT was an adaptation of Albert Ellis' rational emotive behavior therapy and focuses on changing harmful patterns of "emotional reasoning" which can cause depression.

Light therapy

With the change of seasons people can feel tired exhausted, fatigued and down. These feelings could be more serious than "winter's blues" and may lead to depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you are suffering from this condition just a few lifestyle changes and the help of medication or psychotherapy can help ease your symptoms and return your mood back to normal.

Research has demonstrated that bright light therapy, also referred to as phototherapy, can help improve symptoms of SAD and other conditions affecting your mood. The daily use of an e-lamp or full-spectrum light during the early morning hours can help alleviate symptoms. Light therapy helps increase serotonin production, natural chemical that increases your mood and makes you more alert. It can also stop a drop in your circadian clock, the body's inner clock that controls sleep cycles.

The best results for SAD are obtained by using an instrument that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, around the same brightness as being outside on clear days in July. Your doctor will suggest you sit or stand in front of the device each day for at least 30 minutes, starting in the early morning, seven days a week.

If you are suffering from eye strain or headaches, you can adjust the intensity and distance between the light source and you. Use a light box with a filter that blocks harmful ultraviolet rays. These UV rays can cause harm to your skin and eyes. You can purchase a light box from your doctor or locate one on the Internet However, be sure that it's approved by a medical professional for treatment of SAD.

Tell your healthcare provider if bipolar disorder, or any other mental condition, you have. Bright light therapy, or antidepressants can cause manic episodes in some individuals. These risks can be reduced by using these treatments with the guidance of a doctor.