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Is It Seasonal Depression or Depression?
ctpost • March 16, 2021
Tips from Our Clinical Psychologist to Help You Get the Depression Therapy You Need
Winter may not be your favorite time of year, but if you notice that it is causing serious negativity in your life, you could be experiencing a particular type of depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). In order to overcome this negativity, it may help you to seek professional counseling services for depression therapy. This process begins with a proper diagnosis to determine whether you are in fact suffering from SAD rather than a more general type of depression. Norman R. Klein, Ph.D., a trusted clinical psychologist serving the Westport, CT area, has the information you need to better understand your condition.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
People affected by seasonal depression typically experience more severe symptoms during the fall and winter months. SAD is believed to be caused in part by an imbalance in serotonin levels, which can result from a lack of light exposure. In the United States, days get shorter and darker during the fall and winter, meaning fewer opportunities for our bodies to absorb sunlight. This makes SAD far more common in areas farther from the equator.
Those with seasonal affective disorder often describe experiencing changes in mood, appetite, energy levels, and their interest in things they normally enjoy, resulting in an overall sustained sense of hopelessness. For some forms of depression, sadness can manifest as irritability, but with SAD, lethargy is more of the norm. The same is true of oversleeping as opposed to insomnia.
How to Recognize Seasonal Affective Disorder
Feeling out of sorts during the fall and winter does not necessarily mean you have SAD. In fact, many people have a hard time emotionally this time of year due to the holidays rather than anything directly related to the changing seasons. SAD is also quite different from a simple case of the so-called "winter blues." To be officially diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder, you must have experienced at least two years of depression symptoms that grew worse at a certain period of the year.
Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder
SAD is often treated in a similar way to other types of depression through the use of counseling services, cognitive behavioral therapy, and antidepressants. Light therapy, however, is one unique method that has shown to be effective in some instances of SAD. Just twenty minutes spent in front of a light of 10,000 lux or more can dramatically improve a person's mood. Work with your doctor and therapist to develop a treatment plan that's right for you.
Considering Professional Depression Therapy? Contact Us Today.
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