Seasonal depression - Temporary Mood Changes With the Season
Seasonal depression is simply exactly as it sounds a depressive episode or state brought on by the changing of the season's particular the cooler months of the year and primarily in areas where extreme temperature changes occur. This means that if you live in a far northern state or far southern state in the United states for example you may be more likely to end up with seasonal depression.
Seasonal depression is also known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD. Depending on the person it can begin in the fall or winter and runs trough either spring or early summer. The reason for this is can be linked to similar states of cabin fever or winter blues unfortunately they aren't as mild as these states and have significantly greater impact on the people who suffer from seasonal depression. These are not the only seasons there is a rarer form, which takes affect during the remaining part of the year and is known as Summer depression instead of the winter blues or Winter depression.
What Are The Symptoms Of Seasonal Depression
The symptoms of seasonal depression are similar to major depressive disorder. They are fatigue, increased sleep cycle, lower energy levels, weight gain and an increase in appetite along with the desire to be isolated, or anti social behavior and difficulty focusing and concentrating.
For seasonal depression during the Summer months, the symptoms include a decrease rather than increase in appetite, trouble sleeping rather than sleeping too much and weight loss. The remainders of the symptoms are the same as with the more common Winter depression.
There are also the regular symptoms that go along with depression such as irritability, anti social behavior, loss of interest in loved activities along with the gambit of negative feelings. However, in seasonal depression they lean more towards sadness and anxiety rather than feelings of worthlessness.
What To Do To Help
It is believed but has not been proved that SAD may be related to the biological clock and the decrease of available sunlight during the winter months. Gaining more exposure to sunlight may help to relieve symptoms. During the summer months, it is believed to be caused by too much light, which would contribute to the fact that it is less common.
If you or someone you love suffers from seasonal depression, talk to a medical professional about what you can do to help alleviate the symptoms and see if more sunlight in your life helps you.
