Winter and even parts of spring in Chicagoland mean gray skies and snowy and rainy days.
The limitation of natural sunlight can wreak havoc on your mood. What some may not realize is that these feelings of depression sometimes have a deeper cause than dreary weather. Your cold weather blues might be caused by something called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. SAD is more prominent in women, but also affects men of all ages.
In today’s blog post, we dig more deeply into what SAD is, symptoms to watch for, and treatment options.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
According to the American Psychiatric Association, approximately 5% of all Americans experience symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
SAD is a seasonal form of depression caused by reduced serotonin and increased melatonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and mood regulator. Melatonin regulates your sleep cycle. Too little serotonin causes sadness and too much melatonin causes sleepiness.
Hormone changes occur because of changes in natural light. In the winter, people tend to stay inside more, and when we are outside, sunny days are less frequent. This changes the way our body produces hormones in the cold weather months.
What are the Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Symptoms of SAD begin during late autumn or early winter. Symptoms present differently based on severity and may include signs of major depression, such as:
- Loss of interest in favored activities
- Sadness almost every day
- Fatigue
- Changes in appetite
- Loss of focus
- Sense of hopelessness
- Feeling worthless
- Suicidal thoughts
Mild to moderate symptoms of SAD may include:
- Increased appetite (specifically for sugar)
- Weight gain
- Feeling less social
- Fatigue
- Oversleeping
Diagnosing Seasonal Affective Disorder Through Neuropsychological Testing
SAD can be diagnosed with neuropsychological testing. This type of testing determines the core components of your mental health, including strengths. Neuropsychological testing evaluates things like problem-solving, memory, reasoning skills, and more.
Once we are sure SAD is the cause of your depression, we will recommend treatment.
Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder is treated several ways, including through psychotherapy and neurofeedback treatment.
- Neurofeedback: Neurofeedback treatment works by naturally increasing activity in regions of the brain which regulate positive emotions and energy. Unlike medications that temporarily alter negative emotions, neurofeedback encourages long-term growth and changes in the brain. It is safe when combined with medical treatment from your family doctor.
- Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is a non-invasive treatment for depression disorders like SAD. It allows you to develop coping strategies to change thinking and regulate emotions. Psychotherapy is often called talk therapy and involves regular talking sessions with a psychotherapist. Psychotherapy can be paired with neurofeedback or used as a stand-alone treatment.
Contact Chicago Mind Solutions for Treatment Information
Chicago Mind Solutions works with individuals, offering neuropsychological testing and non-invasive treatment for depression caused by seasonal affective disorder. For more information about our treatments and teletherapy options for depression and several other conditions, please contact us at (224) 723-5050 or email info@chicagomindsolutions.com.
