Seasonal depression: what is it and how is it treated?

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the numbermental illness in the world has increased. Among the reasons, researchers identify the effects of the coronavirus, which often contribute to the development of depression, the most common disease in the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 3.8% of the population suffers from this mental illness, including 5% among adults and 5.7% among people over 60 years of age. Thus, the number of patients with depression in the world is at least 280 million people. The situation is complicated by the characteristics of the disease - the symptoms and course of depression can be very different from each other. So, there is a big difference between clinical depression and, for example, seasonal depression - by seasonal affective disorder, researchers mean the seasonal nature of the disease, the symptoms of which usually appear in the fall and continue into the winter months.

Depression can manifest itself in different ways and at certain times of the year.

Plague of the 12th century

The most common disease in the world every yearkills more than 700,000 people by suicide. It is important to understand that depression is very different from mood swings and sadness and often becomes chronic. Patients with depression lose the ability to enjoy life, work and communicate with people. According to WHO experts, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds. However, a huge number of people do not receive any treatment.

Depression (major depressive disorder)a common disease that negatively affects well-being, way of thinking and acting. The feeling of sadness, loss of interest in life and habitual activities leads to many emotional and physical problems, destroying every aspect of the patient's life.

Depression takes away the will to live and completely destroys it

Depression usually appears lateadolescence, with women more likely to get sick than men. Some studies show that one third of women experience at least one major depressive episode during their lifetime. The disease is also hereditary (approximately 40% of reported cases).

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Symptoms include feelings of sadness,depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities, change in appetite (weight gain or loss), sleep problems, increased fatigue, oppressive guilt, difficulty concentrating, and suicidal thoughts. While depression is successfully treatable, researchers still don't know the exact cause its development.

What is seasonal depression?

One of the characteristics of depressive disorderis its diversity and many forms - the disease manifests itself in different ways, which greatly complicates the diagnosis. For example, symptoms of seasonal affective disorder typically begin in the fall and continue into the winter months.
This "winter blues" is manifested by a lack of strength and a lowered mood, depending on the time of year.

Criteria for seasonal depression includethe presence of clinical depression that begins and ends during a certain season each year (with complete remission in the spring and summer months) and lasts for at least two years.

Depression is a serious and extremely dangerous disease.

People with seasonal affective disorderhave difficulty producing the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is thought to be responsible for mood. Violation of the production of neurotransmitters necessary for the normal functioning of the body is one of the most common symptoms of the disease.

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People with seasonal affective disorderdisorder (SAD) are also deficient in melatonin, a hormone produced in the body to regulate the sleep-wake cycle. As winter days get darker, melatonin production increases, making SAD sufferers feel sleepy and lethargic.

Depression takes away the will to live, completely destroying it

combination of low serotonin andElevated levels of melatonin affect circadian rhythms, the body's internal 24-hour "clock" that responds to changes in light and dark. In people with SAD, the circadian rhythm, which indicates the seasonal change in day length, has been found to be out of sync, making it difficult for their bodies to adapt.

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In addition, with less exposure to solarpeople with SAD may produce less vitamin D during the winter. Because vitamin D is thought to play a role in serotonin activity, deficiency is associated with clinically significant depressive symptoms. A causal relationship between serotonin, melatonin, circadian rhythms, vitamin D, and SAR has not yet been confirmed. However, the links between these key factors in the development of depression are being actively studied.

The lack of sunlight negatively affects the state of the psyche

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Patients with SAD often feel sad,irritable and often cry. Fatigue, lack of energy, and an inability to focus on daily responsibilities lead to excessive sleepiness and increased sugar intake (and subsequent weight gain due to overeating). Conversely, in addition to irritability, symptoms of seasonal depression include poor appetite followed by weight loss, insomnia, agitation, restlessness, anxiety, and even violent episodes. It is important to note that seasonal disorders vary in severity.

Treatment for seasonal depression

Problems faced by patientsdepression is fortunately treatable. Traditional treatment for various forms of depression, including SAD, has been psychotherapy and antidepressant medication.

The proven effectiveness of antidepressants allows you to fight depression and defeat the disease

Antidepressants - the class of drugs usedfor the treatment of major depressive disorder (including SAD), certain anxiety disorders and chronic pain conditions, and for the treatment of a number of addictions. Drug treatment of depression allows patients to regain the will to live, and the effectiveness of antidepressants has been scientifically proven.

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Disadvantages of Taking Anti-Depression Drugsinclude a number of side effects including dry mouth, weight gain/loss, dizziness, headaches and nausea. As a rule, side effects last no more than two weeks, and a significant improvement in the condition occurs after three months of taking antidepressants. We talked about whether the theory of “chemical imbalance” of the occurrence of depression is correct here, we recommend reading it!