Seasonal Affective Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, Risk Factors

Depression that is associated with the changing of the seasons is known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which starts and ends about at the same periods each year. Your symptoms, which drain your energy and make you moody, likely begin in the autumn and last into the winter if you're like the majority of people. 

These signs typically disappear during the spring and summer. Less frequently, depression starts in the spring or the first part of the summer and ends in the autumn or winter. Treatment options include medication, psychotherapy, and light therapy (phototherapy).

Causes Of Seasonal Affective Disorder 

Seasonal affective disorder is more common in people with bipolar disorder. Mania episodes in some bipolar patients may be connected to a particular season. For instance, spring and summer might trigger mania symptoms or a milder type of mania (hypomania), as well as worry, agitation, and impatience. They could also go through periods of depression in the autumn and winter.

It is still unclear what specifically causes seasonal affective disorder. Some elements that could be in play include:

• The lack of sunlight can interfere with your body's internal clock, which could lead to depression symptoms.
• Serotonin levels. The neurotransmitter serotonin, which affects mood, may have decreased in concentration. Less sunlight may cause serotonin levels to fall, which could result in depression.
• Quantities of Melatonin. The homeostasis of melatonin in the body, which regulates sleep cycles and mood, may be disturbed by seasonal fluctuations.

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Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms

SAD symptoms typically start to show up in late autumn or early winter and disappear throughout the longer, sunnier days of spring and summer. Less typically, those who develop symptoms in the spring or summer are those who follow the reverse trend. In either instance, symptoms could be moderate at first and worsen as the season goes on.

Possible symptoms and signs include:

• Losing interest in past interests and activities
• Feeling depleted and sluggish feeling low for the majority of the day
• Problems with excessive sleep Cravings for carbohydrates, overeating, and weight gain
• Having trouble staying focused
• Having a sense of worthlessness or remorse
• Considering quitting life in the autumn and winter depressing

Winter-onset symptoms, sometimes known as winter depression, might include:

• Oversleeping
• Changes in appetite, particularly a desire for foods heavy in carbs
• Gaining weight
• Poor energy or fatigue
• Summer and spring SAD

The symptoms of summer depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder with summer onset, include:

• Sleep issues (insomnia)
• Lack of appetite
• Loss of weight
• Anxiety or agitation
• Irritation
• Bipolar disorder and seasonal variations

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Risk Factors Of Seasonal Affective Disorder  

Women are diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder more frequently than males are. Moreover, it happens more frequently in younger adults than in older adults.

Your risk of developing seasonal affective disorder may be affected by the following factors:

• Family background. People may be more likely to have blood relatives who suffer from depression or another type of mental illness.
• Having bipolar illness or significant depression. If you suffer from one of these conditions, there is a chance that particular seasons will make your depression symptoms worse.
• Being far from the equator. People who reside far north or far south of the equator appear to encounter it more regularly. This could be a result of longer days in the summer and shorter days in the winter.
• Inadequate vitamin D levels. A small amount of vitamin D is produced in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D can help to increase the serotonin activity. Low consumption of the vitamin through food and other sources, as well as reduced sun exposure, may contribute to low vitamin D levels in the body.

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Diagnosis Of Seasonal Affective Disorder 

Because other types of depression or other mental health illnesses might create similar symptoms, it can occasionally be challenging for your healthcare provider or mental health expert to diagnose seasonal affective disorder, even after a comprehensive evaluation.

A thorough evaluation typically includes the following to aid in the diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder (SAD):

• Physical Examination: Your doctor may do a physical checkup and quiz you in-depth about your health. Sometimes the root of depression might be found in a physical health problem.
• Trials in the lab. For instance, a complete blood count (CBC) blood test may be used by your doctor to determine whether your thyroid is working normally.
• Psychological evaluation. In order to check for signs of depression, your doctor or mental health specialist will ask you questions about your signs, thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns. You can finish a questionnaire to aid with problem-solving.

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Treatment Of Seasonal Affective Disorder 

A combination of drugs, psychotherapy, and light treatment may be used to treat seasonal affective disorder. Before administering light therapy or an antidepressant, it is crucial for your doctor and mental health expert to ascertain whether you have bipolar illness. Both treatments carry the risk of inducing a manic episode.

The Light Therapy

In light therapy, also known as phototherapy, you position yourself such that you are within an hour of waking up each day and are sitting a few feet from a particular lightbox. The use of light therapy, which simulates natural outdoor light, seems to alter the brain chemicals associated with mood.

One of the first-line therapies for fall onset is light therapy. It typically begins to work in a few days to a few weeks and generates relatively few side effects.

Despite the lack of research on light treatment, most patients seem to find its symptomatic relief to be successful.

Discuss the ideal lightbox for you with your doctor before making a purchase, and familiarise yourself with the range of features and choices available to ensure that you get a high-quality, secure product. Also, inquire about the light box's usage guidelines and timing.

Psychotherapy

Another alternative for treatment is psychotherapy, sometimes known as talk therapy. You can benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy:

• Learn good coping mechanisms, particularly for reducing avoidance behavior and planning purposeful activities.
• Determine the negative attitudes and actions that may be making you feel worse and modify them.
• Learn how to control your stress
• Include healthy habits like increasing your physical exercise and optimizing your sleep patterns.

Medications

Antidepressant therapy may be beneficial for some patients, particularly if symptoms are severe.

In those with a history of depression, an extended-release version of the antidepressant bupropion (Wellbutrin XL, Aplenzin) may help avoid depressive episodes. Additionally, it is frequently prescribed to take other antidepressants.

Before your symptoms generally start each year, your doctor may advise beginning antidepressant therapy. Additionally, he or she could advise you to keep taking the antidepressant past the point at which your symptoms would otherwise stop.

Additionally, you might need to test a few different drugs before you find the one that suits you well and has the fewest adverse effects.

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Complications Of Seasonal Affective Disorder 

The signs of seasonal affective disorder should be taken seriously. If untreated, can worsen and cause issues, just like other forms of depression. These may consist of:

• Social isolation
• Issues at work or at school
• Abusing drugs
• Suicidal ideas or actions
• Anxiety
• Eating Disorders

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Prevention Of Seasonal Affective Disorder 

There is no recognized method to prevent seasonal affective disorder at this time. You might, however, be able to prevent your symptoms from getting worse over time if you act to manage them as soon as you can. You may be able to avoid major changes in mood, appetite, and energy levels if you can predict the season in which these symptoms may appear. Treatment can help avoid complications, particularly if it is detected and administered before symptoms worsen.

Some people find it beneficial to start their treatments in the autumn or winter, before symptoms would typically appear, and to continue them far after symptoms would ordinarily go. Others need continual treatment to maintain their symptoms.

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