Guide To The Warning Signs Of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Oversleeping

Seasonal affective disorder can cause oversleeping and other disruptions to an individual's natural sleep patterns. A patient with seasonal affective disorder will often be unusually sleepy and lethargic throughout the day. They may feel as though they never quite wake up fully in the morning. At the same time, many individuals sleep longer than usual during the night. The longer nights affect a patient's biological clock. The body creates sleep-regulating chemicals based on the sun. When night falls earlier, the body gets sleepy earlier as well.

Darker mornings can make it much more challenging to wake up, even if individuals set alarms. Many patients with seasonal affective disorder find that they have to nap frequently during the day to complete their tasks. It is also common for these individuals to experience nightmares, which can affect their quality of sleep. Sometimes, phototherapy can help with seasonal affective disorder's sleep-related symptoms, since it helps recreate an individual's natural circadian rhythm. Healthy sleep is a vital component of depression treatment.

Reveal additional seasonal affective disorder warning signs now.

Feelings Of Depression

Seasonal affective disorder is sometimes called seasonal depression. It brings on feelings of depression, including sadness, apathy, hopelessness, irritation, fatigue, upset, and a lack of interest in hobbies patients previously enjoyed. The emotional effects of this condition can be debilitating. Though seasonal affective disorder only affects patients for part of the year, the mood changes can be just as severe as those seen in major depressive disorder. Some individuals may be at an increased risk of suicidal thoughts. Depression has a massive impact on a patient's quality of life.

If individuals cannot enjoy anything about their life, they will not feel as though life is worth living. Depression can be treated with psychotherapy and antidepressants. There are also self-care practices patients can do to have a more positive outlook. Individuals need to take time to do things that make them feel happy and satisfied, even if they do not believe they have time. If individuals cannot find anything that makes them happy, they should talk to a doctor about possible treatment options.

Learn more about the signs of seasonal affective disorder now.