It was a fine winter day one afternoon. The weather was chilly and cold outside with trees blooming around and the sun being not so shiny but hidden in the wide sky. People outside experience the cold wind and inside enjoy the hotness of the heater. Suman one fine day experiences some level of discomfort which results in sadness, her lack of energy, and other discomforting feelings which made her anxious and overall lead to depression which is commonly known as SAD or Seasonal Affective disorder. This wasn’t new to Suman as she has been diagnosed with SAD during the winter season as suffering from Seasonal affective disorder which is also known as ‘winter blues’.
SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression that starts and ends around the same periods every year, is connected to seasonal changes. If you have SAD as most people do, your symptoms begin in the fall and last through the winter, draining your energy and making you cranky. Typically, these symptoms go away in the spring and summer. SAD less frequently results in depression in the spring or early summer and clears up in the fall or winter.
But complete SAD goes beyond this. This kind of depression exists. SAD impacts your daily life, including how you feel and think, unlike the winter blues. Thankfully, therapy can help you get through this difficult period.
Is SAD common?
Yes, SAD is common among most young adults, and it is one of the major disorders in the US population.
Symptoms of SAD
SAD symptoms typically start to show up in late fall or early winter and disappear throughout the longer, sunnier days of spring and summer. Less frequently, individuals following the reverse pattern experience symptoms in the spring or summer. In either instance, symptoms could be moderate at first or worsen as the season goes on.
Symptoms
• Feeling drained, depressed, or down for most of the day
• Losing interest in activities you used to like feeling drained and sluggish
• Problems with excessive sleep Cravings for carbohydrates, overeating, and weight gain
• Having trouble staying focused
• Having a sense of worthlessness or remorse
• Being angry or irritated.
• Arm and leg limbs that are thick.
• A decline in interest in typically enjoyable activities, especially a withdrawal from social activities.
• Sleeping issues (usually oversleeping).
• Thoughts of suicide or death.
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Increased level of irritation
Causes of SAD
There can be several causes of SAD Seasonal affective disorder that can be attributed as the leading cause of SAD.
The most common cause of SAD is found to be a lack of sunlight. Exposure to sunlight can minimize the symptoms of SAD to a greater extent.
1. Vitamin D deficiency
As vitamin D is produced in part by sunlight, a lack of sunlight during the winter months might cause a vitamin D shortage. The serotonin level and your mood may be impacted by that alteration.
2. Absence of melatonin as a chemical
Melatonin is a chemical that regulates and affects the sleep cycle of an individual. In some persons, the lack of sunlight may encourage excess production of melatonin. During the winter, you could feel lethargic and tired.
3. Imbalance in the brain's chemical system
Neurotransmitters are the brain chemicals that act as important regulating agents of the body and brain. If you are susceptible to SAD, your serotonin levels may already be low. A lack of sunlight in the winter can exacerbate the problem because sunlight helps regulate serotonin. Depression may result from a further decline in serotonin levels.
How can you cure or treat Seasonal affective disorder or SAD?
To cure and combat the effects of SAD seasonal affective disorder one must understand the early signs and symptoms carefully to be treated perfectly. Treatment of Seasonal Affective disorder SAD includes many things which are listed below you can understand and choose which suits you best.
1. Light therapy
In light treatment, also known as phototherapy, you position yourself such that you are within an hour of waking up each day and are exposed to bright light by sitting a few feet from a particular lightbox. One of the first-line treatments for SAD with fall onset is light therapy. It typically has very few adverse effects and begins to act within a few days to a few weeks. Despite the paucity of research, light therapy appears to be generally beneficial in reducing SAD symptoms.
2. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is proven to be one such therapy that can help to treat the symptoms of SAD effectively commonly known as talk therapy. You can benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy:
Learn appropriate coping mechanisms for SAD, namely reducing avoidance and planning meaningful activities.
Determine the negative attitudes and actions that may be making you feel worse and modify them.
3. Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy provides the most sustained benefits of any therapy strategy, according to research, and successfully improves SAD.
Frequently asked questions
1. Is light therapy safe for the treatment of Sad?
Yes, Light therapy is safe in the treatment of SAD.
2. Can we take antidepressants to treat SAD or medications could work?
Yes, you can opt for both antidepressants as well as for medications. Antidepressants like Fluoxetine(Prozac), Paroxetine (peril, pervexva), Citalopram (Celexa), etc. can be used in the treatment of SAD but it is advisable to practice the above-mentioned medications for the treatment of SAD and healthy living.
3. Even after treatment can SAD disorder comes back.
People who are prone to the seasonal affective disorder may experience symptoms every year, but there are things you may take to decrease or prevent them.
When you decide to seek help, schedule an appointment with Dr. Bakshi.
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