Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer.
Treatment for SAD may include light therapy (phototherapy), psychotherapy and medications.
Don't brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the "winter blues" or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
In most cases, seasonal affective disorder symptoms appear during late fall or early winter and go away during the sunnier days of spring and summer. However, some people with the opposite pattern have symptoms that begin in spring or summer. In either case, symptoms may start out mild and become more severe as the season progresses.
Seasonal affective disorder is a subtype of major depression that comes and goes based on seasons. So symptoms of major depression may be part of SAD, such as:
Symptoms specific to winter-onset SAD, sometimes called winter depression, may include:
Symptoms specific to summer-onset seasonal affective disorder, sometimes called summer depression, may include:
In some people with bipolar disorder, spring and summer can bring on symptoms of mania or a less intense form of mania (hypomania), and fall and winter can be a time of depression.
It's normal to have some days when you feel down. But if you feel down for days at a time and you can't get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor. This is especially important if your sleep patterns and appetite have changed or if you feel hopeless, think about suicide, or turn to alcohol for comfort or relaxation.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
The specific cause of seasonal affective disorder remains unknown. Some factors that may come into play include:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
To help diagnose seasonal affective disorder, your doctor or mental health provider may do a thorough evaluation, which generally includes:
Seasonal affective disorder is considered a subtype of major depression or bipolar disorder. Even with a thorough evaluation, it can sometimes be difficult for your doctor or mental health provider to diagnose SAD because other types of depression or other mental health conditions can cause similar symptoms.
Many mental health professionals use the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, to diagnose mental conditions. This manual is also used by insurance companies to reimburse for treatment.
The DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing depression with a seasonal pattern includes having these experiences for at least the last two years:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Take signs and symptoms of seasonal affective disorder seriously. As with other types of depression, SAD can get worse and lead to problems if it's not treated. These can include:
Treatment can help prevent complications, especially if SAD is diagnosed and treated before symptoms get bad.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
There's no known way to prevent the development of seasonal affective disorder. However, if you take steps early on to manage symptoms, you may be able to prevent them from getting worse over time.
Some people find it helpful to begin treatment before symptoms would normally start in the fall or winter, and then continue treatment past the time symptoms would normally go away. Other people need continuous treatment to prevent symptoms from returning.
If you can get control of your symptoms before they get worse, you may be able to head off serious changes in mood, appetite and energy levels.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Some people are interested in trying alternative medicine (a nonconventional approach instead of conventional medicine) or complementary medicine (a nonconventional approach used along with conventional medicine).
Certain herbal remedies, supplements or mind-body techniques are sometimes used to try to relieve depression symptoms, though it's not clear how effective these treatments are for seasonal affective disorder.
Keep in mind, alternative treatments alone may not be enough to relieve your symptoms. Some alternative treatments may not be safe if you have other health conditions or take certain medications.
Some people choose to take a supplement to treat depression, such as:
Keep in mind that nutritional and dietary products aren't monitored by the FDA. You can't always be certain of what you're getting and if it's safe. Also, because some herbal and dietary supplements can interfere with prescription medications or cause dangerous interactions, talk to your health care provider before taking any supplements.
Mind-body therapies that may help relieve depression symptoms include:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
In addition to your treatment plan for seasonal affective disorder, try the following:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
These steps can help you manage seasonal affective disorder:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Factors that may increase your risk of seasonal affective disorder include:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
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