Seasonal Depression Symptoms

Like other types of depression, people suffering from SAD may experience sadness or lack of enjoyment in everyday activities. They may become less interested in their family and friends, sleep more often or have difficulty getting up, and they crave carbs which give the body rapid energy.

In the fall and winter can affect the brain pathways that regulate mood. Some sufferers experience mild symptoms, while others experience symptoms that are so severe as to affect relationships and at work.

Treatment

The good news is that treatment options are available. Psychotherapy, light therapy, and medication can assist people with SAD. Simple changes can also help to relieve symptoms and improve mood.

SAD can be mild, moderate or even severe. It can affect someone's concentration and energy level as well as appetite. Some people who have SAD may feel irritable or angry more easily. They may also have difficulty taking decisions and concentrating. Some sufferers of SAD experience difficulty sleeping and this may cause them to be deficient in energy during the daytime. The change of seasons can cause symptoms of SAD. The shorter daylight hours during the fall and winter can affect a person's biological rhythms. It can decrease serotonin levels and boost melatonin. This can lead to sleepiness or depression.

People who suffer from SAD feel sad or down at a certain time of the year. They usually have these symptoms during winter or autumn months and feel better in spring. In the summer, they may have episodes where they feel happy or high. People suffering from SAD might experience more depression episodes than other people. SAD may be confused with other mood disorders. It is important to obtain an assessment from a medical provider.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for SAD. CBT is a type of psychotherapy which teaches people how to confront and change thoughts that are not helpful. CBT for SAD focuses primarily on changing negative thoughts about the season to more positive ones. It helps people find enjoyable activities to combat their lack of interest in the summer or winter months.

It's unclear what the effectiveness of herbal supplements or remedies are for SAD. Many herbs and dietary supplements aren't controlled in the same way that drugs are. They can interact with certain prescription medications and cause serious issues. Consult your doctor before taking any herbal or dietary supplements.

Medication

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

Many people with winter-pattern SAD have depressive symptoms checklist episodes that appear and go each year in the fall and winter. These episodes can be accompanied by a lack of energy, a greater appetite, an increased desire for starchy food as well as sleep disturbance and weight increase. These symptoms can trigger feelings of hopelessness, despair and even is caused by changes in the amount of sunlight and biological clocks, which may affect sleep, eating habits and mood. Antidepressants, light therapy, and cognitive behavioral symptoms of depression therapy can help improve symptoms of seasonal depression.

Researchers aren't quite sure what causes SAD. However, they believe that less sunlight triggers a change in the chemical in the brain that leads to depression. SAD sufferers are more likely than other people to be suffering from mental conditions, such as major depression or bipolar disorder. They may also be at risk because of family history, for example, someone in the family with depression or schizophrenia.

People suffering from winter-pattern SAD typically have lower levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which regulates mood. The low levels of this chemical can cause problems with sleeping and focusing, as well as feeling sad. People who suffer from summer-pattern SAD might have lower levels of melatonin, which can impact sleep patterns and cause depression-related symptoms.

SAD symptoms include low energy, sadness as well as difficulty concentrating and a loss identifying early signs of depression (Aboutdirectorofnursingjobs.com) enthusiasm for the activities you normally enjoy. In some instances you may decide to be unable to connect with family and friends during the wintery, cold months or lose weight to cope with your emotional turmoil. You might also start to feel suicidal and this is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention.

Talk therapy can help people suffering from SAD overcome their depression by changing unhealthy thought patterns and behavior. In sessions of psychotherapy, your therapist will ask questions and encourage you to be aware of how you react in difficult situations. Then, you'll discuss ways to deal with these situations differently.

Psychotherapy is most effective when it is tailored to a specific issue like SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most promising treatments 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 many people feel slow and tired, and down. For some, these feelings are more severe than a typical situation of "winter blues" and may lead to primary depression symptoms known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD. If you suffer from this disorder, simple lifestyle changes can help relieve symptoms and help restore your normal mood.

Bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, has been found to help alleviate symptoms of SAD as well as other conditions that can affect your mood. A morning routine of using a light with a full spectrum or box can reduce symptoms. Light therapy helps increase serotonin production, natural chemical that increases your mood and boosts your alertness. It can also help prevent the deterioration of your circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock in your body that regulates sleep cycles, and other important functions.

The best results are achieved by using a device which emits 10,000 Lux of bright white light. This is about the same brightness that you experience outside on a sunny day in July. Your doctor may suggest that you stand or sit in front of the device for 30 minutes every day, starting in the morning.

If you suffer from eye strain or headaches, you can adjust the intensity and distance between the light source and you. It is important to make use of a light source that filters out the harmful ultraviolet rays which can cause damage to your eyes and the skin. You can purchase a light box through your healthcare provider or find one on the Internet, but make sure it's medically approved for the treatment of SAD.

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