Treatment of seasonal depression. Causes of seasonal depression

Autumn has its own charm - in the gold of the foliage, in the depths of the sky, in the silence of forests and gardens, in the fog and rain. But how sad the soul sometimes is on these charming days! For many, autumn and good mood- mutually exclusive concepts, and for some there is no autumn without depression. What is going on in nature that prevents a person from enjoying this time of year?

It's quite simple: there is less light. The sun appears less often, and gray clouds hang above us more often. This, sad as it may be, is normal for autumn in our latitudes. When it seems that the gloomy sky is hanging directly overhead and pressing, this is what happens: due to high humidity, it drops lower limit clouds Why are they formed at all? Because the temperature in the atmosphere always decreases with height. If air currents rise upward, the water vapor in them cools. And when its temperature reaches a certain value, water vapor turns into water droplets. These droplets, when very small, scatter light waves equally, and we see white clouds - usually in summer. But when the drops become larger, they not only scatter the light, but also absorb some of it. And we see the cloud darken, becoming more and more gray. If the relative humidity is high, 80-90 percent, as happens in autumn and winter in our latitudes, the lower limit of the clouds drops to 100-200 m. In such a situation, the sky seems to be pressing on us. The sun cannot break through such a curtain, and we are forced to experience autumn in virtual darkness. This does not add joy.

We also don’t have enough light because the daylight hours are getting shorter. By mid-autumn, many regions have an active day ordinary person already exceeds the daylight hours: you have to get up while it’s still dark and do things that require attention when it’s already dark outside. Our brain is designed in such a way that darkness for it is a signal to curtail activity. Melatonin synthesis increases in the dark. This is not a natural sleeping pill, as many believe, but a hormone that “advises” the brain to turn on rest mode. Hence the drowsiness that we so often experience in cloudy weather and in the cold season: we simply do not have enough light to stay alert.

by the way

People with dark irises are susceptible to seasonal depression. In this case, the number of sun rays, penetrating through it.

What we call the autumn blues or depression is called seasonal affective disorder in medical parlance. This is not real depression, but it is also not just a prolonged attack of bad mood that must be endured - such a condition can greatly disturb ordinary life, if you don't do anything with it. Here are his special features.

It is most often recorded in autumn and winter with remission in spring or summer. Actually, this is the main criterion. True depression can also worsen in autumn and winter, but is not so clearly tied to the seasons, and its symptoms are much more severe. Although, by the way, there is a rare type of seasonal depression that only bothers you in the summer.
Almost everyone's mood and well-being change at the transitions of the seasons - this is normal. But not everyone has seasonal affective disorder. It is believed that only about 5 percent of the population with certain biological disorders are susceptible to such disorders, and not only in nervous system. For example, there is evidence that winter depression is closely related to the presence of diabetes.
Seasonal blues, although not a disease, has its own symptoms: drowsiness, lethargy, the desire to sleep longer and eat more, and preferably something starchy or sweet - craving carbohydrate foods. But there are other unpleasant manifestations: irritability, moodiness, nervousness, increased anxiety.

You can’t cancel autumn and winter, you can’t immediately move to Italy, you can’t change the weather, and you somehow don’t want to be gloomy for several months in a row. What can you do for yourself?

Light therapy. Considering that one of the reasons for the autumn blues is a lack of... sunlight, light therapy is often used to improve the condition, which is well tolerated. In most cases, patients feel better within 1-2 weeks. But light therapy is prescribed for a long time; it is recommended to do this before the beginning of spring. Not at home - this is impossible, because we're talking about about very powerful light sources, which must also be directed in a certain way.

WALK like that. A very simple method, but one that works, according to psychotherapists, is walking in the fresh air during the daylight hours. A must - on those days when the sun still peeks out from behind the gray cloud curtain.

Let's live BRIGHTER. At home, anything that provides better illumination is suitable: replacing dark, heavy curtains with light, light-transmitting curtains in joyful, sunny colors, powerful light bulbs, more light sources, etc. Although home light therapy is not very useful, it still can’t hurt.

Give me a VACATION- Always the right way improve your mood. If, year after year, you notice that you fall into despondency at the same time - for example in November - and go through the rest of the “dark” periods more or less cheerfully, it makes sense to plan a vacation somewhere sunny for this time ( not necessarily a hot exotic country or at least a region.

We keep the MODE. There is a great temptation to follow the body’s lead and sleep through as much as possible all the sad gloom outside the window. But it’s not worth it! Violation of the regime also disrupts the exchange of serotonin, which has important in the occurrence depressive state. The owl mode, when you try to wake up as late as possible in the morning and then in the evening as you have to, aggravates seasonal depression. The “earlier we go to bed, earlier we get up” mode is also relevant in the autumn-winter season.

More PLEASANT. But various kinds pleasures such as meeting with friends, going to a restaurant and cinema, trips to interesting places, swimming, baths, etc. worth adding to your life. After all, if something brings you pleasure, that’s wonderful, healthy and great.

What if it doesn't help?

If winter sleepiness and broken state did not respond to “treatment” good sleep and a good weekend, and melancholy does not respond to “therapy” with friendly gatherings and what used to delight you, it makes sense to forget about autumn and winter and the lack of light and start looking the real reason your condition.

If you notice a decline in mood in the spring or fall, then it may be time to talk about seasonal depression.

Seasonal depression is a condition characterized by a regular decrease in emotional and vitality at certain times of the year, usually in autumn and winter. At the moment of depression, there is a deterioration in a person’s physical and mental well-being, without specific reasons, or the manifestation of symptoms that are in no way related to real ones. medical diagnoses available to the patient.

Symptoms of seasonal depression

As a diagnosis, seasonal depression began to be identified relatively recently, when with the onset of winter or, more often, autumn, most people began to experience similar signs of changes in their emotional state.

Typical symptoms of seasonal affective disorder are:

- depressed, depressed state for at least two weeks;

- depressed mood regardless of external circumstances;

- anhedonia - decrease or loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities;

- rapid fatigue, decreased performance, decreased vital energy.

Additional symptoms are:

- pessimistic assessment of the past and present;

— inexplicable feeling guilt and self-worthlessness;

- irrational anxiety;

- low self-esteem;

- difficulty concentrating;

— difficulty in making a decision quickly;

- desire to be alone;

- causeless irritability;

- thoughts about death, thoughts of suicide;

- unstable (increased or decreased appetite);

- marked loss or gain of body weight;

- Glycogeusia - the appearance of a sweet taste in the mouth in the absence of appropriate irritants;

- sleep problems: the presence of insomnia or excessive sleep.

If seasonal depression is suspected, diagnosis and subsequent treatment should be carried out exclusively by a highly qualified specialist, since similar symptoms can occur with more dangerous mental illnesses and some physical ailments.

Causes of seasonal depression

Psychotherapists say one of the main causes of seasonal depression is a decrease in light, which provokes a decrease in serotonin levels. Serotonin is responsible for the release of hormones that regulate emotional mood and directing him towards a positive perception of the world. When the amount of serotonin in the body decreases, a passive state occurs, which causes drowsiness, and the person “plunges” into an inactive phase of life. This leads to a decrease in mental and physical tone.

Treatment of seasonal depression

One of latest methods Treatments for seasonal depression include light and color therapy, art therapy, fairy tale therapy, sand therapy.

Light therapy for seasonal depression

Light therapy is the provision of adequate lighting in the room where the patient is located, in order to stimulate the production of serotonin and saturate the body with the hormones necessary for an adequate perception of reality and the return of positive thinking.

Color therapy for seasonal depression

More modern and of interest to specialists in the field of psychiatry is the method of color therapy. The idea is to dress a person suffering from seasonal depression in bright and light colors. The lack of bright colors is what traumatizes the patient’s perception of the outside world in autumn and winter period s, therefore the task of the method is to compensate for this deficit and “saturate” the person’s subconscious with the missing information.

Breaking the method down into pieces, it becomes easy to explain why a person feels an unwillingness to move on in life and loses the meaning of existence. It is bright colors that make up a picture of the world, full of possibilities and options for fulfilling desires, while gray and black colors set “boundaries” in the subconscious, causing an association with death, sleep, gray stone, and so on. White It is also not recommended for use in the treatment of patients with seasonal depression, since most people associate it with hospital medical paraphernalia.

Art therapy

A person needs self-realization, otherwise they accumulate negative emotions and symptoms of depression may appear. Various methods psychotherapy is aimed at working with the cause of this disease. But it is not always so easy to detect. Sometimes you need to spend large number time (even more than a year) to finally get to the real reason such a state.

Art therapy methods are used by a psychologist to reduce the symptoms of a disease or at its initial stage. They are applicable on initial stages work with a person, to work with adolescents with depression.

Fairy tale therapy

Fairy tales are folk art based on life situations. In fairy tales, heroes experience losses, various adversities, betrayal, and so on.

While working through the plot of a fairy tale with a psychologist, a person is left with fear of loneliness, hopelessness and despair, he understands that he is not alone in his problem. The intensity of depressive symptoms decreases.

Sand therapy

It is a non-verbal form of psychocorrection. Human expresses suppressed desires and goals with the help of figures in the sand. By talking about what he built, why exactly, what the figures located in specific places mean to him, a person gradually comes to the realization of what caused him to suffer such a disease.

Depending on what type of depression a person develops, psychotherapeutic methods for overcoming it are selected. Psychoanalysis is effective in treating the underlying causes of illness. Cognitive behavioral therapy is important for a person's adaptation to normal life. Art therapy methods root cause will not eradicate, but will help release repressed emotions.

A psychologist, along with a medical specialist, helps to understand the cause of this condition and change the attitude towards it, and the person then continues to fight for a full life.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), known as seasonal depression, is a type of depression that occurs seasonally. Usually, episodes of depression appear at the same time every year during the season of lack of solar activity. If you feel completely healthy during the spring and summer, if you start to feel uncomfortable towards the end of the fall and have symptoms of depression during the winter, you may have seasonal affective disorder. In most cases, symptoms begin in the fall, as daylight hours begin to shorten. The maximum manifestations of seasonal depression are observed in December, January and February. Women with seasonal affective disorder react negatively to decreasing amounts of sunlight and lower temperatures during the fall and winter.

In the spring, women with seasonal affective disorder are “reborn”, the intensity of the symptoms begins to decrease, and then the manifestations of the depressive state completely disappear. Seasonal affective disorder has been recognized as specific disease It wasn't until the early 1980s that Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal and his colleagues officially reported the condition and gave it an appropriate name. According to Dr. Rosenthal, he himself experienced symptoms of depression every winter and spent a lot of time trying to determine the causes of his own condition, such as childbirth and understanding seasonal affective disorder. Dr. Rosenthal suggested that less light during winter may be a major cause of seasonal affective disorder.

It should be noted that some women may suffer from atypical shape seasonal affective disorder, sometimes clinical symptoms Seasonal depression may appear during the summer (instead of winter or in addition to winter).

Seasonal affective disorder is about four times more common in women than men. An increase in the incidence of seasonal affective disorder has been noted in countries far from the equator. In general, women of all ages can be susceptible to seasonal depression, but the highest incidence of seasonal depression is found in women 22-25 years old.

Seasonal depression - causes and risk groups

Most scientists suggest that the underlying cause of seasonal affective disorder is decreased exposure to sunlight over more than short days year. A lack of sunlight can cause malfunctions in the body, disrupt the sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythms(body's internal clock). Violation of cycles provokes a decrease in the level of serotonin, which is responsible for mood.

Another theory suggests that light stimulates the part of the brain (mainly the hypothalamus) that controls mood, appetite and sleep. So a lack of light can alter mood (causes sadness), changes appetite (or anorexia) and causes sleep disorders.

Lack of light can affect the body's production of melatonin and serotonin, as well as disrupt the body's circadian rhythm. Women who live in the northern geographical latitudes, susceptible greater risk development of seasonal affective disorders. At the same time, it was found that low level Vitamin D levels in the blood are associated with a higher incidence of seasonal depression. Seasonal affective disorder may begin in adolescence(more often in girls) or in mature age(more often in women). Women with a family history of depression are more likely to high risk development of seasonal affective disorder.

Seasonal depression - symptoms

Seasonal affective disorder symptoms tend to start and end around the same time every year. Symptoms of seasonal affective disorder typically begin slowly in late fall and continue into the winter months. Most women notice symptoms in September-October and notice a decrease in them in April-May.
The two main symptoms of seasonal affective disorder are: Bad mood and lack of interest in life. But some women may have other symptoms, such as:

Sadness, grumpiness, moodiness, or anxiety;
Decreased activity and loss of interest in usual activities;
Decreased energy and ability to concentrate;
Sluggishness of movements;
Hopelessness and irritability;
Increased need for prolonged sleep;
Overeating or cravings for food (mainly carbohydrates - baked goods, cakes, pasta);
Weight gain;
Closedness (isolation).

Seasonal depression - diagnosis

Main diagnostic criterion Seasonal affective disorder is the dependence of the manifestation of all symptoms of depression on the time of year. If you experience the symptoms of depression listed above during the short, dark days of winter, you likely have seasonal affective disorder. Main diagnostic symptoms are symptoms of depression associated with seasonality.

Seasonal depression - treatment

Light therapy can be very effective for treating seasonal affective disorder. There are two types of light therapy:

Bright light of the device for a limited period of time (30-120 minutes) in the morning.
The light of a device that simulates dawn, when the dim light while you sleep gradually becomes brighter (similar to the natural sunrise/sunset).

Light therapy is effective means for most women suffering from seasonal affective disorder. Positive effect can be observed after 1-2 weeks of treatment. Light therapy should be used within long period, throughout the autumn-winter season. Light therapy can be stopped in late spring.

Sometimes doctors may prescribe antidepressants for seasonal depression; these medications can improve the balance of brain chemicals that affect mood. Counseling can also be useful component effective treatment of seasonal affective disorder.
It is recommended to be active during the entire treatment period, as daytime(especially in the morning) physical activity can help you have more energy and feel less depressed.

Seasonal depression - forecast

Treatment for seasonal affective disorder is usually effective and the outcome is usually good. But some women may experience seasonal affective disorder throughout their lives.

Seasonal depression which is often called seasonal affective disorder (SAR) , is a disease that occurs every year at the same time, usually in early autumn or winter and ends in spring or early summer (« winter depression» ).

A rare form of SAD known as "summer depression" , begins in late spring or early summer and ends in autumn.

Symptoms

People who suffer from SAD have many common features depression: sadness, anxiety, irritability, loss of interest in one’s ordinary activities, social withdrawal and inability to concentrate. Symptoms such as extreme fatigue and lack of energy are also common, increased need during sleep, carbohydrate cravings, and increased appetite and weight gain.

Symptoms of winter disorder include:

increased need for;
decreased energy levels;
increased appetite, especially food products With high content carbohydrates (such as pasta and bread);
weight gain;
loss of interest in;
difficulty concentrating;
increased desire to be alone, social isolation;
feeling of hopelessness;
anxiety;
irritability;
heaviness (“leadenness”) in the arms or legs.

Symptoms of summer disorder include:

decreased appetite;
weight loss;
anxiety;
irritability.

Seasonal changes and bipolar disorder

Some people with, in the spring and summer may experience symptoms of mania or less intense forms of mania (hypomania). It's called reverse seasonal affective disorder . Signs and symptoms of reverse seasonal affective disorder include:

constantly high spirits;
hyperactivity;
excitation;
unbridled enthusiasm in proportion to the situation;
quick thoughts and words.

Causes of seasonal depression

The specific causes of seasonal affective disorder remain unknown. Most likely, like many mental illness, this is genetics, age and, perhaps most importantly, natural chemical composition your body, all of this plays a role in the development of this disease. Here are a few factors that may influence the onset of seasonal depression:

Yours biological clock(circadian rhythm ). Reduced levels of sunlight in the fall and winter can disrupt the body's internal clock, which helps us know when we should be asleep or awake. This disruption to your circadian rhythm can cause feelings of depression.
Serotonin levels. Drop in serotonin levels chemical substance brain (neurotransmitter), which affects mood, can play important role seasonally affective disorder. Decreasing sunlight can cause decreased serotonin levels, which can cause depression.
Melatonin levels. Changes that occur during the off-season can disrupt the balance of the natural hormone melatonin, which plays an important role in regulating sleep and mood.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase the risk of seasonal affective disorder include:

Floor . Seasonal affective disorder is diagnosed more often in women than men, but symptoms can be more severe in men.
People living far from the equator. Seasonal affective disorder appears to be more common among people who live far north or south of the equator. This may be due to decreased sunlight during winter or more sunny days during the summer months.
Heredity. As with other types of depression, seasonal affective disorder is most likely to affect people who have a blood relative with the condition.
People having clinical depression or bipolar disorder. Symptoms of depression may make seasonal affective disorder worse if you have one of these conditions.

Complications

Take the signs and symptoms of seasonal affective disorder seriously. Like other types of depression, seasonal depression can get worse and lead to problems if left untreated. These may include:

suicidal thoughts and behavior;
social isolation;
problems at work, university, school, etc.;
alcohol or drug abuse.

Treatment can help prevent complications, especially if seasonal depression is diagnosed and treated before symptoms appear.

When to seek medical help?

If you think you have seasonal affective disorder or another type of depression, following cases you can apply for medical care:

feeling extremely sad, hopeless, or empty;
inability to get out of bed and continue normal activities;
persistent loss of energy or increased need for sleep;
unexplained changes appetite;
changes in behavior that cause problems with family, friends or at work;
desire to die, commit suicide, or harm oneself.

Preparing for treatment

If you experience symptoms of seasonal depression, you should contactdoctor. Here's what you need to do before meeting him.

What you can do:

Write down your symptoms. Write down the main symptoms that you have (for example, feeling depressed or lack of energy, etc.).
Write down information about your depression, for example, when it starts, what actions you take make your condition better or worse.
Write down any other mental or physical health problems. Both problems can affect mood.
Write down any major stresses or changes in your life, that you recently visited.
Make a list of everyone drugs, that you take, including vitamins and food additives.
Write down the questions you want to ask to your doctor.

Given that the time of your meeting with your doctor is limited, you can prepare a list of questions in advance. This will save time and have a more fruitful conversation with your doctor. Some basic questions regarding seasonal affective disorder may include:

Are my symptoms caused by seasonal affective disorder or could they be related to something else?
What else could be causing my depressive symptoms?
What are the most effective methods treatment?
Are there any restrictions and what should I do to help improve my mood?
Is there alternative means to get out of seasonal depression?
Are there any brochures or other printed materials that I can take home with me to study? What sites do you recommend visiting?

In addition to the questions you have prepared, feel free to ask questions as you talk with your doctor.

What questions might your doctor ask you?

Your doctor will likely ask you a number of questions. Be prepared to answer them. He may ask:

What are your symptoms?
When did you first start having symptoms?
Are your symptoms constant or occasional?
How severe are your symptoms?
What improves your condition?
What is making your condition worse?
Do you have other physical or mental illnesses?
Are you taking any medications, dietary supplements or herbal remedies?
Do you use alcohol or drugs?
Do yours have blood relatives seasonal affective disorder or other mental illnesses?

Your doctor depending on specific situation may also ask other questions.

Tests and diagnostics

To diagnose seasonal affective disorder, your doctor will conduct a thorough evaluation, which usually includes:

Detailed questions. You may be asked about your mood, thoughts and behavior in relation to seasonal changes. They may also ask about how you sleep, relationships at work, family and other issues. You may be asked to answer psychological questionnaires.
Physical examination . Your doctor may do a physical exam to check for conditions that may be related to your depression.
Carrying out analyses. There are no medical tests for seasonal affective disorder, but if your doctor suspects that your physical condition may be causing depression, you may need blood tests and other tests to determine the underlying cause.

Seasonal affective disorder is considered a subtype of depression. Even with a thorough evaluation, it can sometimes be difficult for your doctor to diagnose seasonal affective disorder because other types of depression or mental illnesses can cause similar symptoms.

The following criteria should be considered when diagnosing seasonal affective disorder:

you have been experiencing depression and other symptoms for at least two recent years contract;
periods of depression are followed by periods of its absence.
there are no other explanations for the change in mood or behavior.

Treatment and medications

Treatment for seasonal affective disorder may include light therapy and counseling (psychotherapy). If you have bipolar disorder, your doctor will use caution when prescribing light therapy or antidepressants. This is because both procedures can potentially cause a manic episode.

Light therapy (phototherapy). Light therapy is an effective treatment for SAD. It seems to reset the “biological clock” (circadian rhythms) that controls sleep and wakefulness. If you have vision or health problems, or are taking medications that increase your sensitivity to light, ask your doctor if light therapy is safe for you.

Light therapy is one of the first treatments for seasonal affective disorder. It typically starts working within two to four days and causes few side effects. Research on light therapy is limited, but it is effective for most people in relieving the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.

Light therapy should be continued throughout the depression. People who stop treatment tend to fall back into depression.

Before you begin light therapy, talk to your doctor to make sure it is effective.

Antidepressants. Some people with seasonal affective disorder may benefit from antidepressants, especially if symptoms are not severe.

Antidepressants commonly used to treat seasonal affective disorder include paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), and venlafaxine (Effexor).

Your doctor may recommend starting treatment with antidepressants if your symptoms usually recur every year. Keep in mind that it may take 1 to 3 weeks for you to notice the effects of your antidepressants. Also, you can try various medications, before you find one that works well for you and has the fewest side effects.

Basic side effects from taking antidepressants may be the following:

nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea;
anxiety and nervousness;
trouble sleeping or drowsiness;
loss sexual desire or abilities;
headaches.

Consulting. Counseling, also called psychotherapy, is another treatment for seasonal affective disorder. Psychotherapy can help you identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that you developed as a result of your illness. You can also find out about healthy ways alleviating symptoms of seasonal affective disorder and managing stress.

Psychotherapy can help you cope with the fear of seasonal depression, relax and cope with the restrictions that this illness imposes. Additional activities such as meditation, relaxation and aerobic exercise may have similar results.

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Home treatment is very important when treating seasonal affective disorder. This may include:

Physical activity. Be physically active during the day, especially in the morning winter time, may help improve your energy levels and reduce depression. Moderate exercise, such as walking, cycling, and swimming, can also help relieve anxiety, which can increase the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.

Healthy eating. The food is healthy, balanced diet useful for any type of depression and may help relieve some symptoms of SAD.

Additionally, there are some measures you can take at your own discretion. Try this:

Make your environment sunny and bright. Open the blinds, trim tree branches that block sunlight from your windows, and sit closer to bright windows at home or in the office.
Take a walk outdoors. Take a walk, have lunch at a cafe in a nearby park, or just sit on a bench and soak up the sun. Even in cold or cloudy days open light can help you.

Alternative medicine

Some vegetable medicines and nutritional supplements, as well as techniques such as acupuncture, meditation, guided imagery, and massage are commonly used to relieve symptoms of depression. However, there are not yet sufficient scientific evidence the effectiveness of these methods for the treatment of seasonal affective disorder. Keep in mind that alternative methods treatments alone may not be sufficient to relieve the symptoms of seasonal depression. Some alternative treatments may not be safe if you have other medical conditions or are taking certain medications.

Additives, used to treat depression include:

St. John's wort. This herb is traditionally used to treat a variety of problems, including depression. It may be helpful if you have mild to moderate depression.
Melatonin. It is a natural hormone that will help regulate your “biological clock” (circadian rhythm). Changing seasons can change the level of melatonin in the body.
Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce symptoms of depression and have other health benefits. Sources of omega-3 include fish such as salmon, mackerel and herring. Omega-3 is also found in some nuts and grains and others. plant sources, but it is not yet clear whether they have the same effect as fish oil.

Talk to your doctor before you use them to make sure they are safe for you.

Be sure to check with your doctor before using the supplements discussed above because they may interact with other medications you take.

You should not take St. John's wort if you are taking other antidepressants. Additionally, St. John's wort may cause sensitivity to light. If you are using light therapy, discuss with your doctor whether St. John's wort can be used along with other treatments.

I wish you health and all the best.

Best regards, Sergey Aydinov.

Read more on the topic “Depression”:

Seasonal depression refers to a mood disorder that occurs periodically. In psychiatry, two types of diseases are distinguished: winter type and summer look. As a rule, winter depression occurs in early autumn and lasts until the end of spring. But summer depression appears at the beginning of summer and ends in autumn. Most often, the disease is typical for women; men are rarely affected.

Symptoms of seasonal depression

One group of people has light form disease, with symptoms such as:

Increased irritability.
Nervousness.
Fussiness.
Depressed mood.

The remaining patients have a more pronounced form, which without timely treatment is further aggravated and negatively affects a person’s lifestyle, behavior, personal and work relationships.

People with a genetic predisposition and whose relatives suffered from seasonal depression are at risk of getting sick. But in people who live in northern latitudes, due to the shortening of daylight hours in autumn and winter, the following complex of syndromes arises:

Constantly depressed mood.
Feeling very tired.
– long lasting night sleep and excessive sleepiness during the day.
Sexual activity decreases.
Symptoms of polyphagia are characterized by a violation eating behavior, which are expressed in increased appetite, pathological gluttony, the patient constantly wants to eat.

A separate subsyndromal disorder is distinguished, in which vegetative symptoms develop. In winter, during the daytime, a patient with an affective disorder has a sharp decrease in cortisol levels, and seasonal depression only worsens.

Some symptoms of seasonal depression resemble vitamin deficiency :

The person is constantly sleeping.
I want to eat a lot.
Psychomotor retardation is observed.

Main Causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Some experts believe that seasonal depression is a consequence of “ internal clock» human (circadian rhythms). Many psychotherapists associate the development of depression with disorders of neurotransmitters - a lack of norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine.

But molecular studies suggest that the main reason lies in genetic inheritance. Interestingly, winter depression is most often associated with a decrease in vitality and an increase in activity in spring and summer. Latest Research they say that it is not the seasonal ones that are to blame, but, most likely, climatic factors – atmospheric pressure, temperature indicators.

How to diagnose seasonal depression?

Answer the questions, if there are many positive answers, you need the help of a psychotherapist:

Do you feel depressed, depressed?
Have you lost interest in life?
Don't you enjoy early classes?
Do you get tired quickly?
Is your self-esteem declining?
Are you feeling anxious?
Having trouble concentrating?
Can't make a decision?
Do you really want to be alone?
Are you experiencing unreasonable irritability?
Are you starting to worry about thoughts of suicide or death?
Have you suddenly started losing or gaining weight?
Is it getting sweet?
Having trouble sleeping?

Methods of treating the disease

Depending on how complex the disease is, we select effective treatment. As a rule, winter depression is treated with light therapy, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and psychotherapeutic techniques. Summer depression can only be cured with antidepressants.

Please note that pharmacotherapy is used only in the following cases:

Risk of suicide.
Positive reaction to taking antidepressants.
Severe depression.
Serious mental disorders.
Absences positive results psychotherapy, phototherapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to relieve symptoms. It is very important to stick to a diet and exercise regularly.

Features of light therapy

The doctor decides how many procedures are needed. Typically, one session lasts about 40 minutes. A bright light is directed from the source into the patient's eyes. When it becomes brighter than usual, it happens active stimulation serotonin, while the production of melatonin decreases.

The technique most often used by psychotherapists is “dawn modeling”. When the patient is sleeping, they turn on a slightly dim light, then begin to increase the brightness to create the illusion of dawn. Thus, light therapy helps to get rid of.

IN modern medicine We are confident that if the patient starts taking antidepressants in a timely manner, the light therapy sessions will bring the long-awaited effect and will lift their spirits.

To prevent the disease, you should try to walk outside as much as possible. Also eat right - your menu should be rich in minerals and vitamins. Remember: active image life, movement is life. The support of loved ones is also very important.

Many modern psychotherapists see a close connection between physical and mental health. That’s why they recommend: don’t forget to breathe fresh air. If you know that autumn has a negative impact on you, reconsider this time of year: take care of your health. Sports such as qigong, aerobics, yoga, tai chi, tai bo, fitness, and shaping are very useful. Choose your favorite hobby that will bring you real pleasure.

So you must understand that mental health no less important than the physical, so do everything to avoid seasonal depression. If unpleasant symptoms there is no need to prolong the problem, contact a specialist who will advise you in detail and help you decide right decision. Be always happy and healthy! Remember, life is beautiful!