Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Treatment in New Jersey

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs during certain seasons.[1] Usually, it starts in the winter and stops causing symptoms during the summer. It is believed that seasonal affective disorder is triggered by changes in daylight.

The symptoms of seasonal affective disorder include feelings of sadness, low energy, and changes in sleeping or eating habits. This mental health condition can be incredibly difficult to cope with, making daily life hard to manage.

Thankfully, there are a ton of ways to treat seasonal affective disorder. Mental health professionals can use light therapy to help you manage your symptoms, which involves using a lamp that mimics sunlight. Other treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and antidepressant medication.

If you are trying to recover from seasonal affective disorder, New Jersey Behavioral Health Center is here to help. Our mental health professionals are experienced in treating SAD and use a combination of holistic care and evidence-based treatments.

In this article, you will learn:

• What is seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?
• What are the symptoms of SAD?
• How does treatment in New Jersey for seasonal affective disorder work?

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a mental health condition that causes people to experience depressive symptoms during seasons when sunlight is poor. For example, SAD symptoms usually occur during the winter and fall months and subside during spring and summer.

The brain’s response to seasonal changes in daylight is thought to play a major role in SAD. While winter SAD is most common, some people have an opposite experience, where they experience depression symptoms during the summer and find relief in the winter.

According to MedlinePlus:[2]

• SAD occurs in 0.5 to 3 percent of individuals in the general population
• SAD affects 10 to 20 percent of people with major depressive disorder
• SAD affects about 25 percent of people with bipolar disorder

Understanding SAD Symptoms

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) causes symptoms of depression during certain seasons each year. The symptoms you might experience include:[1]

• Feeling sad, anxious, or empty most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks.
• Experiencing hopelessness and pessimism
• Dealing with frequent irritability, frustration, or restlessness
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Losing interest in hobbies and activities you used to enjoy
• Decreased energy and fatigue
• Trouble concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things
• Changes in sleep and appetite, or unexplained changes in weight
• Physical symptoms like aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems
• Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts

If you have winter SAD, you might experience the following symptoms:

• Oversleeping or hypersomnia
• Overeating (especially carbohydrates), which leads to weight gain
• Social withdrawal that feels like hibernating

If you have summer SAD, you might notice:

• Trouble sleeping
• Poor appetite that leads to weight loss
• Restlessness, anxiety, and agitation
• Violent or aggressive behavior

Mental health experts diagnose seasonal affective disorder using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). If your depressive episodes match the changing of seasons, you meet the criteria for SAD. However, if the mental health professional believes you experience mania on top of depressive episodes, you might have bipolar disorder.

How Does Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder in New Jersey Work?

SAD is a complex mental health condition that requires ongoing treatment. It might involve evidence-based therapies like CBT and medication, or alternative treatments like using a bright light to regulate your body.

During our SAD program at New Jersey Behavioral Health Center, we offer the following types of treatment:

Light Therapy

In addition to talk therapy, we use light therapy to help our SAD clients recover. If you have winter-pattern SAD, your depressive episodes stem from a lack of sunlight. Thankfully, sunlight can be mimicked by using a special lamp.

If you use a lamp that mimics sunlight and bright light for 20 to 60 minutes every day during the fall and winter months, the symptoms of SAD might lessen. Light therapy works by causing an increase in brain chemicals that make you feel happy, like serotonin and dopamine.

That said, light therapy is not a standalone treatment for SAD, as you need to engage in evidence-based therapies and potentially medication.

Medication

Sometimes, medication is necessary to control severe symptoms of SAD. If you are experiencing self-harming behaviors, thoughts of suicide, or suicide attempts, you’ll need to take a daily medication to experience relief. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the preferred type of medication for SAD.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

In addition to light therapy and medication, our program uses cognitive behavioral therapy to address SAD. This evidence-based therapy can help you change negative thought patterns, address unhealthy behaviors, and find relief from intense depressive symptoms. There is a type of CBT specifically tailored to treat SAD symptoms and help you deal with seasonal changes, which is called CBT-SAD.

Lifestyle Changes

Like other mental health conditions, lifestyle changes can help you deal with the symptoms of SAD. In addition to using a light box or bright light once daily, you can make sure you spend time outside to receive natural light. Usually, the morning is the best time to go outside, especially during the winter.

Other lifestyle changes to consider include:

• Exercise – Physical activity can cause a release of endorphins, which are chemicals that help you feel pleasure. This is why exercise is always recommended for people dealing with any type of depression.
• Healthy Diet – Eating right can help your body receive the energy it needs to get through the day. When you have SAD, you often deal with fatigue and low energy, which is why it’s important to fuel your body with healthy foods.
• Adequate Sleep – Mood disorders like SAD cause sleep disturbances. By making sure you don’t sleep too much or too little, you can lessen your symptoms.
• Social Interaction – SAD can lead to isolation and feelings of loneliness. By making time for social interaction, you can combat these feelings and lessen your negative thoughts.
• Stress Management – Engaging in practices like deep breathing, mindfulness, and meditation can help manage stress and improve your overall well-being. It also helps you release brain chemicals that are necessary to improve your mood.
• Journaling – If you are dealing with unhealthy sleep patterns, winter blues, or difficulty concentrating, you should try journaling. Writing down your feelings and issues will help you notice patterns, making it easier to engage in positive behavioral changes.

If you notice that you are experiencing the symptoms of depression in early winter, you might have SAD. Seasonal affective disorder can last for a few weeks to several months. It can begin in young adulthood and continue throughout your life.

Engaging in lifestyle changes like exercising regularly, taking dietary supplements, using a light box, and getting natural sunlight when possible can prevent depressive episodes naturally. If these tools don’t work, CBT and medication can help you find relief.

Get Connected to a Top-Rated Mental Health Treatment Center for Depression Symptoms

If you are dealing with the symptoms of SAD or winter blues, it’s time to seek professional help. While getting natural sunlight and vitamin D is a good way to lessen your symptoms, sometimes these tricks are not enough. At New Jersey Behavioral Health Center, we can provide you with the evidence-based treatments you need to recover.

Contact us today for more information on how we can help you overcome SAD.

References:

1. The National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH): Seasonal Affective Disorder
2. Medline Plus: Seasonal affective disorder