Seasonal Affective Disorder: What is it and how to treat it?

The clocks have returned, the temperatures are falling and the days are getting shorter: winter does not come, it's here.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): A type of depression that usually occurs when we move to colder climates.

Sometimes called "winter depression," seasonal depression can be debilitating and leave the victim with many psychological symptoms, including irritability and persistent mood, as suggested by his acronym.

Read on for everything you need to know about CAS, from its causes to how it can be treated.

What is it?

CAS is a form of depression that people experience at some time of the year, usually winter, although some suffer during the summer.

Although it is considered quite normal that the seasons change, the mood of a person is much more cheerful when the sun is at the rendezvous and vice versa when it is colder and colder. Cloudier, CAS is a recognized mental health disorder that can have a significant impact on someone's daily life.

According to a study published in 2014, it affects 29% of Britons in winter.

What are the causes?

As with many psychological conditions, the exact cause of SAD is not known, but there are several theories about why some people have more severe symptoms than others.

These are listed on the mental health charity's website, Mind's, and include low levels of serotonin, a physical illness, a disrupted body clock, and a change of diet or medication.

It is also thought that people with SAD may have higher levels of melatonin, the hormone produced by the brain that makes us tired, which can leave people suffering from SAD in a state of perpetual exhaustion.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of SAD vary from one person to another, but according to the NHS, they may include: persistent low mood, loss of pleasure in daily activities, feeling of lethargy, longer sleep than normal and a lack of carbohydrates.

Some people may also experience feelings of guilt, hopelessness and uselessness.

How is he diagnosed?

If you think you have a TAS, you are advised to consult your doctor, who will be able to assess your mental health.

This may include asking questions about your mood, eating habits and sleep patterns and how they fluctuate with the seasons.

In some cases, they may also perform a physical examination.

How is it treated?

The main treatments of the CAS are talking therapies, such as counseling and cognitive-behavioral therapy, and light therapy, which encourage patients to buy a light box simulating exposure to sunlight. These are usually kept in everyone's bedroom.

Antidepressants may also be prescribed to some patients, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, also used to treat panic disorder and a number of phobias.

These work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which will be missed by many people with SAD.

Other people can be encouraged to treat their condition by changing their lifestyle, for example by exercising regularly, eating healthily and getting as much natural light as possible by trying to get healthy. sit near the windows and go for regular walks outside.