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Seasonal Depression Symptoms Like other types of depression, people with SAD feel depressed or have a lack of enthusiasm for daily activities. They may become less interested in their friends and family, sleep more, or have trouble getting up, and crave carbohydrates that provide quick energy. In the fall and winter can impact brain pathways that help regulate mood. Some sufferers have mild symptoms while others experience symptoms that are severe enough to affect relationships and at work. Treatment The good news is that treatment options are readily available. www.iampsychiatry.com , light therapy, and medication can assist people with SAD. Simple changes can also help relieve 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. Some people with SAD may experience irritability or angry more easily. They may also have difficulty making decisions and concentrating. Some people with SAD have trouble sleeping well which can result in fatigue throughout the daytime. Symptoms of SAD can be caused by the changing seasons. The shorter days in fall and winter may alter the biological rhythms of a person. 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 certain time of the year. These symptoms typically occur in the fall or winter, and they feel better in spring. In summer, they can also experience periods of feeling elevated or euphoric. SAD sufferers might experience more episodes of depression. SAD can be confused with other mood disorders. It is essential to get an assessment from a medical provider. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment for SAD. CBT is a kind of psychotherapy that teaches people to confront and change unhelpful thoughts. CBT for SAD is focused on changing negative thoughts related to the season with more helpful ones. It helps people find fun activities to counteract their lack of interest in the summer or winter. It's not clear how effective herbal remedies or supplements are for SAD. Many herbal remedies and supplements don't have the same level of regulation as medications. They can interact with prescription drugs and cause serious health issues. Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any herbal or dietary supplements. Medication The symptoms of seasonal depressive disorder are more serious than a few “winter blues.” Your GP can diagnose and treat these symptoms when you experience them throughout the year at the same time. Treatment options include light therapy, psychotherapy, and medications. Many people with winter-pattern SAD have depression-like episodes that come and go throughout the year in the winter and fall. These episodes may be caused by a lack energy, an increase in appetite and a preference for starchy foods, sleep disruption and weight increase. These symptoms can lead you to feel depressed or depressed, and may even lead to suicide in severe instances. In addition to antidepressants some people with SAD benefit from taking a dopamine-inhibitor like bupropion. This medication helps balance your serotonin levels and dopamine levels to lessen the likelihood of becoming unmotivated and irritable. This is a relatively new kind of antidepressant that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat SAD. Your doctor will recommend the most effective medication for you based on your specific symptoms and severity of illness. They'll likely suggest that you begin antidepressants prior to when the symptoms of seasonal depression usually begin every year, and keep taking them until spring. They might also suggest using the light box or lamp to simulate sunlight, which will encourage serotonin release. It's important to note that although many people with SAD suffer from a vitamin D deficiency however, there is no evidence of this being the reason of their condition. However, ensuring your diet is full of healthy foods and that you take time in the sun can help. SAD is a challenging condition to deal with and the symptoms can last for a long while. But it is crucial to understand that there are many treatments for this condition. with the assistance of your GP you can conquer 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 SAD is a type depression that can be seen in winter and autumn and increases during spring and summer. It is caused by changes in sunlight exposure and biological rhythms that can alter sleep, eating habits mood and behavior. Seasonal depression can be treated by taking antidepressants, cognitive behavior therapy and light therapy. Researchers don't know the cause of SAD. They believe that less sunlight causes brain chemicals to change that can lead to depression. SAD patients are more likely than other people to suffer from other mental disorders, like bipolar disorder or major depression. They could also be at risk due to family history, like someone in the family with schizophrenia or depression. People with winter-pattern SAD generally have lower levels of the brain chemical serotonin that regulates mood. The low levels of this chemical may cause sleep problems, thinking clearly and feeling sad. Melatonin levels may be lower in people who have SAD summer-pattern. This can affect sleep patterns and cause feelings of depression. SAD symptoms include sadness, low-energy as well as difficulty concentrating and a decrease in interest in the things you usually like. In some instances you may decide to cut off contact with family and friends during the dark, snowy months or lose weight as a way to manage your emotions that are negative. You might also begin to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical problem that requires immediate attention. Talk therapy can help people who suffer from SAD overcome their depression by changing their negative thinking patterns and behavior. In the sessions with your therapist, they will ask questions and encourage you to be attentive to how you react in difficult situations. Then, you'll work together to develop ways to deal with these situations in a different way. Psychotherapy is most successful when it is tailored to a specific issue, such as SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising therapies available for SAD. CBT was created by Aaron Beck in the 1960s. It is an adaptation of Albert Ellis’ rational emotive behaviour therapy. It focuses on transforming negative patterns of emotional reasoning” that lead to depression. Light therapy Many people feel tired, sluggish and depressed as the seasons change. For some, these issues are more serious than a typical condition known as the “winter blues,” and may lead to depression known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD. If you are suffering from this disorder it is possible to make a few minor lifestyle changes, as well as the help of psychotherapy or medication could relieve your symptoms and restore your mood back to normal. Bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, has been proven to help alleviate symptoms of SAD, as well as other conditions that can affect your mood. A daily use of light boxes or specialized full-spectrum light in the early morning hours can reduce your symptoms. Light therapy increases your serotonin production, which is a natural chemical that improves your mood. It also helps prevent a decrease in your circadian clock, which is the internal clock in your body that regulates sleep cycles. The best results for SAD are obtained by using an instrument that emits 10,000 lux of bright white light, roughly the same amount of light as outside on clear days in July. Your healthcare professional will recommend you sit or stand in front of the device each day for a minimum of 30 minutes beginning in the early morning, all week. There may be some headaches or eye strain when using the light, but these effects usually go away when you alter the intensity of the light and the distance between you and the light source. It's important to use a light box that blocks harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause damage to your eyes and skin. You can purchase a light box through your physician or find one on the Internet however, make sure that it's approved by a medical professional to treat SAD. It is essential to inform your healthcare provider that you suffer from bipolar disorder or any other mental health issue, as for some people, bright light therapy or antidepressants can cause a manic episode. The risk can be minimized by utilizing these treatments under the guidance of a physician.