10 Unexpected Seasonal Depression Symptoms Tips

Seasonal Depression Symptoms

As with other types of depression, people suffering from SAD may experience sadness or feeling of sadness in their daily activities. They may lose interest in families and friends, fall asleep more or have trouble waking up, and they crave carbs that provide quick energy.

The brain's mood-regulating pathways could be affected by the lack of sunlight in winter and fall. Some people may experience mild symptoms, whereas others have symptoms serious enough to interfere with relationships and work.

Treatment

The good news is that treatment options are available. Psychotherapy, light therapy and medication can assist people with SAD. They can also make small adjustments that can ease symptoms and improve mood.

SAD can be severe or mild. It can affect a person's concentration and energy level as well as appetite. People with SAD may feel irritable and angry more frequently. They may also have trouble concentrating or making decisions. Certain people with SAD have difficulty sleeping which can result in a lack of energy throughout the daytime. The symptoms of SAD can be triggered by the change in seasons. The shorter days in fall and winter may alter the biological rhythms of a person. This can reduce serotonin levels and increase the hormone melatonin. This could cause depression or increase sleepiness.

People who suffer from SAD feel down or sad at certain times of the year. These symptoms typically occur in winter or fall and they are more comfortable in the spring. In the summer, they might experience episodes where they feel elated or high. People with SAD may have more depression episodes than other people. SAD can be confused with other mood disorders. It is essential to get a medical diagnosis.

CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is an effective treatment option for SAD. CBT is a form of psychotherapy which teaches people how to confront and change negative thinking. CBT for SAD concentrates on changing negative thoughts about the season to more helpful ones. It also assists people to find enjoyable activities to counteract the lack of interest they typically have in the summer or winter.

It's unclear what the effectiveness of herbal supplements or remedies are for SAD. Many herbal remedies and dietary supplements aren't regulated the similar way drugs are. They can cause serious problems when they interact with prescription drugs. Check with your physician prior to taking any dietary or herbal supplement.

Medication

The symptoms of seasonal depression are much more serious than a few "winter blues." Your GP can identify and treat these symptoms if you experience them every year at the same time. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy, and medication.

The winter-pattern SAD is characterized by depressive episodes that happen every year during the winter and fall seasons. These episodes are often accompanied by a lack energy and appetite and a craving for starchy foods and sleep disturbances, as well as weight gain. These symptoms can cause you to feel helpless and despairing, or even suicidal in extreme instances.

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 which reduce the feeling of being depressed and angry. This is a relatively brand new type of antidepressant which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be used to treat SAD.

depression symptoms men  will prescribe the right medication for you, based on your symptoms and degree of severity. They will probably recommend that you begin antidepressants during the fall before your seasonal symptoms typically begin each year and continue taking them until spring. They may recommend using a lamp or light box to simulate sunlight, which will encourage the release serotonin.

It's important that you know that, even though many people suffering from SAD suffer from a lack of vitamin D, there's no evidence to support this as a cause for the disease. You can improve your health by consuming an appropriate diet and spending enough time outdoors in the sun.

SAD is a difficult illness to manage and the symptoms can last for a long while. It is essential to know that there are a variety of treatments available for this condition, and with the assistance of your GP, you can overcome your symptoms and return to 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 behavior therapy

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a kind of depression that is seen in the fall and winter and improves in the spring and summer. It is caused by changes in sunlight exposure and biological rhythms that can disrupt sleep, eating mood and behavior. The treatment for seasonal depression is with antidepressants, cognitive therapy and light therapy.

Researchers aren't sure what causes SAD. They believe that a lack of sunlight triggers brain chemicals to change which can trigger depression. SAD sufferers are more likely than others to be suffering from mental conditions, such as bipolar disorder or major depression. They could be also at risk due to the family history of mental health issues such as schizophrenia or depression.

People suffering from winter-pattern SAD generally have lower levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which regulates mood. Insufficient levels of this chemical may cause sleep problems and thinking clearly, as well as feeling sad. Melatonin levels might be lower in those with SAD summer-pattern. This can affect sleep patterns and trigger feelings of depression.

Symptoms of SAD include sadness, low energy and a lack of concentration. It can also cause a loss of interest in activities that you normally enjoy. In some cases, you might withdraw from friends and family during the wintery, cold months or lose weight to cope with your negative emotions. You may also begin to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical condition that requires immediate attention.

Talk therapy can help SAD sufferers overcome depression through the change of negative thoughts and behaviors. During sessions, your therapist might ask you questions and help you to pay attention to the way you react to stressful situations. Then, you'll discuss strategies to handle these situations in a different way.

Psychotherapy is most successful when it's tailored to a specific issue such as SAD. One of the most promising treatments for SAD is known as cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. 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 reasoning" which can cause depression.

Light therapy

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

Bright light therapy, or phototherapy, has been found to reduce symptoms of SAD as well as other conditions that influence your mood. Utilizing an e-lamp or full-spectrum light in the early morning can help reduce your symptoms. Light therapy increases your serotonin levels, a natural chemical that boosts your mood. It can also help prevent the deterioration of your circadian rhythm, which is the body's internal clock that controls sleep cycles, as well as other vital functions.

The best results for SAD are obtained by using a special device that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, roughly the same brightness as outside on an uncloudy day in July. Your doctor may suggest that you stand or sit in front of the device for 30 minutes each day, starting in the morning.

If you experience headaches or eye strain or headaches, you can adjust the intensity and distance between the light source and your. Make sure you use a light box that has a filter that blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation. These radiations can cause damage to your eyes and skin. 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 to treat SAD.

Inform your healthcare provider if bipolar disorder, or any other mental disorder you are suffering from. Bright light therapy, or antidepressants can trigger manic episodes in some individuals. The risk can be reduced by utilizing these treatments under the guidance of a psychiatrist.