Seasonal Depression Symptoms

Similar to other forms warning signs of depression depression, people with SAD may experience sadness or feeling of sadness in their everyday activities. They might lose interest in families and friends, fall asleep more or have trouble waking up, and are in search of carbohydrates which give the body rapid energy.

The brain's mood-regulating pathways can be affected by the absence of sunlight during winter and fall. Some sufferers have mild symptoms while others suffer from symptoms that are so severe as to interfere in relationships and at work.

Treatment

There are many options for treatment. People with SAD can benefit from light therapy, psychotherapy and medications. They also can make simple adjustments that can ease symptoms and improve mood.

SAD can be either severe or mild. It can cause changes in an individual's appetite, energy levels and concentration. Some people who have SAD may experience irritability or angry more frequently. They may also have trouble making decisions and concentrating. Some people with SAD suffer from sleep problems and could cause them to lose energy during the day. The changing seasons can cause symptoms of SAD. The shorter hours of daylight in the winter and fall seasons can alter a person's biological rhythms. This can decrease serotonin and increase the hormone melatonin. This may cause sleepiness and cause depression.

People suffering from SAD experience feeling depressed or sad at certain times of the year. They usually have these symptoms in winter or autumn months and feel better in spring. In the summer, they may experience episodes where they feel elated or high. SAD sufferers might experience more episodes of depression. SAD can be confused with other mood disorders. It is important to obtain an assessment from a medical doctor.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for SAD. CBT is a form of psychotherapy that helps people to challenge and change unhelpful thoughts. CBT for SAD focuses on changing negative thoughts associated with the season to more positive ones. It helps people find enjoyable activities to combat their lack of interest during the summer or winter.

It's not known how effective herbal supplements or remedies are for SAD. Many dietary and herbal supplements aren't regulated the same way as medicines are. They could cause serious problems when they interact with prescription medications. Talk to your healthcare professional prior to taking any herbal or dietary supplements.

Medication

The symptoms of seasonal depressive disorder are more serious than a few "winter blues." If you suffer from these changes in mood each year around the same time you GP can assist in diagnosing and treat your symptoms. Treatment options include psychotherapy, light therapy and medication.

Many people who suffer from winter-pattern SAD experience depression-like episodes that come and go every year during the winter and fall. These episodes are often caused by fatigue and appetite, a preference for starchy food as well as sleep disturbances and weight gain. These symptoms can lead to feelings of hopelessness, despair and even suicidal ideas in the most severe cases.

Certain people suffering from SAD might benefit from taking a bupropion, a dopamine inhibitor. This medication helps balance your serotonin levels and dopamine levels to lessen the possibility of being anxious and lethargic. This is a relatively new kind of antidepressant which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be used to treat SAD.

Your doctor will prescribe the best medication for you, depending on your symptoms and the severity. They will likely recommend that you start antidepressants before the symptoms of seasonal depression usually begin each year, and then continue taking them until spring. They might also suggest that you use an artificial light source or a light box to simulate sunlight, which can encourage the release serotonin.

It's important that you know that, although many people suffering from SAD experience a deficiency in vitamin D, there's no evidence to suggest this as the cause signs of depression returning their disease. However, making sure your diet is a source of healthy foods and that you take time in the sun can help.

SAD can be a very difficult condition, and the symptoms can seem to last for a long period of time. It is essential to recognize that there are a variety of treatments available for this condition, and with the help of your GP and a variety of treatments, you can beat your symptoms and live your 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 symptoms of depression behavior therapy

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that appears in the fall and winter and improves during spring and summer. It is caused by changes in the amount of sunlight exposure and biological rhythms that disrupt sleep, eating mood and behavior. Antidepressants, light therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can improve symptoms of seasonal depression.

Researchers aren't sure the cause of SAD. But they think that less sunlight triggers a chemical change in the brain that leads to depression. People with SAD are more likely to suffer from other mental health conditions which include bipolar disorder and major depression. They could also be at risk due to a family history of mental health conditions such as schizophrenia or depression symptoms in children.

Serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood, is often lower in people with SAD winter-pattern. Low levels of serotonin can affect sleep and the ability to think clearly and lead to sadness. People who suffer from summer-pattern SAD might have lower levels of melatonin, which can alter sleep patterns and increase depression symptoms.

SAD symptoms include sadness, low-energy, difficulty concentrating, and a loss of interest in the activities you usually enjoy. In certain instances you may withdraw from friends and family during the wintery, cold months or shed weight as a way to deal with your negative emotions. You might also start to feel suicidal, which is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate care.

Talk therapy can assist SAD sufferers overcome depression through the change of bad habits of thinking and behavior. During psychotherapy sessions, your therapist will ask questions and help you to be aware of how you react in difficult situations. Then, you'll discuss strategies to handle these situations in a different way.

Psychotherapy is most effective when it is tailored to a specific issue for instance, 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 built on Albert Ellis' rational emotive behavior therapy and focuses on transforming negative patterns of "emotional reasoning" which can cause identifying depression symptoms.

Light therapy

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

Research has proven 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 a light box or specialized full-spectrum light in the early morning hours can alleviate your symptoms. Light therapy helps increase your production of serotonin, natural chemical that increases your mood and makes you more alert. It can also prevent a drop in your circadian clock, the internal clock in your body that regulates sleep cycles.

The best results can be achieved by using a device that emits 10,000 Lux of bright white light. This is roughly the same brightness you would experience outside on a sunny 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 eye strain or headaches and headaches, you can alter the intensity and distance between the light source and your. Use a light source with filters that block harmful ultraviolet rays. These UV rays can cause harm to your skin and eyes. You can purchase a light box from your healthcare provider or find one on the Internet, but make sure that it's approved by a medical professional to treat SAD.

You should tell your doctor whether you suffer from bipolar disorder or another mental health issue, as in some individuals, bright light therapy or antidepressants can cause a manic episode. The risk can be reduced by using these treatments under the guidance of a psychiatrist.