Seasonal Depression symptoms of depression in women

SAD is characterized by sadness or a lack in enjoyment of everyday activities. They may lose interest in family members and friends and may sleep more or have trouble waking up. They also have a craving for carbohydrates, which gives the body immediate energy.

Less sunlight in fall and winter can impact brain pathways that regulate mood. Some sufferers experience 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 available. Patients suffering from SAD can benefit from psychotherapy, light therapy and medication. They can also make small adjustments that can ease their symptoms and improve their mood.

SAD can be severe or mild. It can cause changes in a person's energy levels, appetite, and concentration. People with SAD may be more angry and irritable often. They may also have trouble taking decisions or concentrating. Some sufferers of SAD suffer from sleep problems, which can cause them to lack energy throughout the daytime. The change in seasons can trigger symptoms of SAD. The shorter hours of daylight during winter and autumn seasons could affect a person’s biological rhythms. This can reduce serotonin levels and increase Melatonin. This can cause insomnia or cause depression.

People with SAD frequently feel sad or depressed at certain times of the year. The symptoms typically manifest in the fall or winter and they are more comfortable in the spring. In summer, they might have episodes where they feel elated or high. SAD patients may have more depression-related episodes. SAD can be confused with other mood disorders. It is essential to get an medical diagnosis.

CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) is a successful treatment option for SAD. CBT is a type of psychotherapy that teaches people to challenge and change negative thoughts. CBT for SAD focuses primarily 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 typically have in the winter or summer.

It's not clear what the effectiveness of herbal remedies or supplements are for SAD. Many dietary and herbal supplements aren't regulated in the same way as medications are. They can interact with prescription medications and cause serious issues. Talk to your healthcare professional prior to taking any dietary or herbal supplements.

Medication

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

Many people who suffer from winter-pattern SAD have depressive episodes that come and go each year in the winter and fall. These episodes may be accompanied by a lack of energy, an increase in appetite and an increased desire for starchy food, sleep disruption and weight increase. These symptoms can cause you to feel hopeless or depressed, and may even lead to suicide in extreme instances.

Some people with SAD might benefit from taking bupropion, a dopamine inhibitor. This medication helps to regulate the levels of dopamine and serotonin and reduces the tendency to feel lethargic and anxious. This is a relatively new kind of antidepressant that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be used to treat SAD.

Your GP will prescribe the best medication for you based on your particular symptoms and severity. They may suggest that you begin antidepressants in the fall before your symptoms that are seasonal begin each year and continue taking them until spring. They may also suggest using an artificial light source or a light box to simulate sunlight, which can trigger serotonin release.

It is important to remember that while many people with SAD suffer from a vitamin D deficiency but there isn't any evidence of this being the cause of their condition. You can improve your health by eating nutritious food and spending enough time in the sunshine.

SAD is a difficult illness to manage and the symptoms can last for an extended time. It is crucial to understand that there are numerous treatments for this condition. With the help of your GP you can get rid of symptoms and resume regular 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 manifests in winter and fall and gets better during the spring and summer. It is caused by changes in the amount of sunlight exposure and biological rhythms that can disrupt sleep, eating, mood and behavior. Antidepressants, light therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy can improve symptoms of seasonal depression.

Researchers don't know what causes SAD. But they think that less sunlight triggers a chemical shift in the brain that leads to depression. People with SAD are more likely to have other mental health conditions, including major depression and bipolar disorder. They could also be at risk because of family history, for example, someone in the family with depression or schizophrenia.

Serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood, is usually lower in people with SAD winter-pattern. Low levels of serotonin can affect sleep and the ability to think clearly and can cause sadness. People with summer-pattern SAD may have lower levels of melatonin which can affect sleep patterns and increase feelings of depression.

symptoms of major depressive disorder of SAD include depression, sadness and a lack of concentration. It can also cause a an absence of interest in the activities that you normally enjoy. In some cases you may cut off contact with family and friends during the wintery, cold months or lose weight to cope with your negative emotions. You may also start to feel suicidal. This is a serious medical condition that requires immediate attention.

Talk therapy can assist SAD sufferers recover from depression through the modification of negative thoughts and behaviors. During sessions, your therapist may ask you questions or suggest that you to pay attention to how you respond to difficult situations. You will then work together to come up with new ways to deal with these situations.

Psychotherapy is most effective when it's tailored for a specific problem, such as SAD. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one signs of depression returning - read the article - the most promising treatments available for SAD. Developed by Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania in the 1960s, CBT is based on Albert Ellis' rational emotive behavior therapy. It is focused on changing harmful patterns of "emotional reasoning" that can lead to depression.

Light therapy

With the change of seasons, many people feel sluggish exhausted, fatigued and down in the dumps. For some, these feelings are more severe than a typical situation of "winter blues," and may lead to depression, which is known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. If you are suffering from this condition, a few lifestyle changes can ease symptoms and help restore your normal mood.

Bright light therapy, also known as phototherapy, has been found to improve symptoms of SAD and other conditions that affect your mood. early warning signs of depression morning use of a full spectrum light or light box can help reduce physical symptoms of being depressed. Light therapy increases the production of serotonin natural chemical that increases your mood and makes you more alert. It can also help prevent the deterioration of your circadian rhythm. This is the body's internal clock that controls sleep cycles and other important functions.

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 see outside on a sunny day in July. Your doctor may recommend that you sit or stand in front of the device for 30 minutes each day, starting in the morning.

You may experience some eye strain or headaches while using the light, but these effects will usually disappear when you alter the intensity of the light and distance between you and the light source. Use a light source with an anti-radiation filter that blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation. These UV rays can cause harm to your skin and eyes. You can purchase a light box through your healthcare provider or find one on the Internet, but make sure that it's approved by a medical professional for treatment of SAD.

Inform your healthcare provider if bipolar disorder, or any other mental illness you suffer from. Bright light therapy, also known as antidepressants can trigger manic episodes in some individuals. These risks can be mitigated through these treatments under the guidance of a physician.