Seasonal Affective Disorder Treatment

Do you feel like your mood changes with the seasons?

You’re not alone. Over 20 million Americans experience Seasonal Pattern Depression, previously known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Help is available.

Amend Treatment offers a wide range of evidence-based therapy designed to help you overcome Seasonal Pattern Depression.

Take the first step today and call Amend Treatment at (833) 912-6363 to learn more about bipolar disorder treatment.

Contents

Overview

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Seasonal Affective Disorder Treatment at Amend Treatment

Overview

Seasonal Pattern Depression is far more common than once believed, affecting up to 20 million Americans.

This specific type of depression is characterized by periods of depression that coincide with seasons with lower levels of light or weather changes.

Seasonal Pattern Depression was previously known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is a subset of major depressive disorder. The change in name was brought about by the discovery that Seasonal Pattern Depression can occur at any time of year and not just during winter months where lack of light exposure is apparent.

Symptoms

As with most mental health conditions, there are many symptoms of Seasonal Pattern Depression. Symptoms often begin around October and subside in around April.

With that said, the most common symptoms of Seasonal Pattern Depression include the following:

Feelings of sadness, despair, or hopelessness
Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
Insomnia or excessive sleepiness
Appetite changes, often leading to weight gain or loss
Anxiety and irritability
Inability to focus or concentrate
Fatigue or low energy
Social isolation

These symptoms may appear simultaneously. Many people with Seasonal Pattern Depression also experience major depressive disorder outside of their seasonal episodes.

If you suspect you may be experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it may be time to contact a mental health professional.

Causes

Seasonal Pattern Depression is caused by many things. The most common are changes in the weather or in the amount of daylight. When it is dark outside for a long time, some people start to feel down. With that said, this type of depression can occur year-round for some people. There also appears to be a genetic link for this type of depression.

Mental health professionals are still uncertain about the causes of Seasonal Pattern Depression.

Diagnosis

It can be difficult to diagnose Seasonal Pattern Depression, especially if it is not possible for you to review your moods over the past year or two.

Recognizing the pattern is critical to determining the cause of this type of depression. In order to effectively diagnose Seasonal Pattern Depression, a mental health professional will review your medical history. They will also ask you about your moods and how they have changed over time. That information can help them determine if Seasonal Pattern Depression is a factor.

It may feel like seasons dictate how you feel or what you are able to accomplish on a given day. If this is the case, you may be suffering from Seasonal Pattern Depression.

The good news is there are effective treatments available for this type of depression. It is important to speak with an experienced mental health professional about your symptoms.

Treatment

Treating Seasonal Pattern Depression can be done through a variety of methods. However, most experts recommend light therapy as the first step in seasonal affective disorder treatment.

Light therapy is exactly what it sounds like: exposing yourself to natural or artificial light for a specific amount of time each day. The length of this type of treatment will vary from person to person based on their light sensitivity. You will need to speak with your mental health professional about this process.

When it comes to seasonal affective disorder treatment, another option is medication for seasonal depression.

Your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant that can help treat seasonal changes in mood or behavior. This form of seasonal affective disorder treatment is typically paired with some form of therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Other seasonal affective disorder treatment options include talk therapy and support groups.