Seasonal Depression: A Disorder Commonly Associated With Insomnia

Seasonal depression is known by other names such as seasonal affective disorder and winter blues. You must know how it affects insomnia and how you can help in treating the disorder

There have been a lot of psychological conditions linked to the occurrence of insomnia. The person’s ability to cope with these conditions is reflective on the way he sleeps at night. This is the reason why there is a need to know some of the most common disorders leading to insomnia. Take for instance the case of seasonal depression.

Seasonal depression, better known as Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a kind of despair that is associated to season changes each year. Majority of individuals with this kind of condition usually feel melancholic during winter time. This type of depression usually affects young women, but it can also attack both men and women in any age. Similar to all kinds of gloominess, SAD can result to overwhelming upshots in an individual’s life.

Causes of seasonal depression

The precise source of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is not known but there are factors that associated to this condition which include the following:

• Substance alterations in the brain instigated by modification in the quantity of sunshine.

• Living in geological sites that are usually gloomy and overcast throughout the winter.

• There are also some theories that are connecting genetics to this kind of problem.

Symptoms of seasonal depression

Seasonal affective disorder may contain similar symptoms like the other kinds of depression. This includes demoralized emotion, deficit of concentration, exhaustion or, feelings of unimportance, desperation and even persistent thoughts of death or suicide. In some individuals, the signs of SAD recur approximately the same period every year. Other symptoms include:

• sleeping further than normal;

• longing for sweets, starchy foods and alcohol;

• gain in weight including weightiness of arms and legs.; and

• bad temper or arguments with other individuals

The symptoms of winter blues in children comprise of looking for lighted areas or sunshine, and they usually want to have plenty of artificial lights on. Some children do not have winter blues. What they have is the summer seasonal affective disorder.

When to look for medical attention

Individuals affected by SAD must seek medical attention if:

• They are experiencing tremendous gloominess, worthlessness and desperation.

• They are unable to step out of their bed and they can no longer perform their regular actions properly.

• Persistent thoughts of committing suicide and loss of energy

• Unexplainable changes in appetite

• Abnormal change in behavior with their friends, family members, and other people around them

Treatment for seasonal depression

There are certain kinds of treatments that are possible for this kind of condition which include self-care at home and medical treatments. Self-care at home is said to be effective it helps avoid the recurrence of the disorder. Individuals with SAD must spend at least 30 minutes outdoor each day. They must put a device in their bedroom to regulate the light until early in the morning.
For medical treatments, the use of blue-light therapy is ideal due to its ability to alleviate the symptoms felt by individuals with SAD. Take note however that if the self-help will work, medications may no longer be required. Whether you are the one with SAD or you have a housemate with the disorder, be an instrument in treating the problem.

Tags: insomnia, seasonal affective disorder, seasonal depression, sleeping disorders, winter blues

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