{"id":605,"date":"2021-11-18T05:12:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-18T05:12:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2023-09-05T14:13:39","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T06:13:39","slug":"how-to-combat-the-winter-blues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/how-to-combat-the-winter-blues\/","title":{"rendered":"Seasonal Affective Disorder Treatment Options: How to Combat The Winter Blues"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seasonal affective disorder is a mental health condition and a form of depression that is colloquially known as the \u2018winter blues\u2019. Seasonal affective disorder treatment is important to seek out, because despite being referred to as the \u2018winter blues\u2019, seasonal affective disorder (or SAD for short) is much more serious than winter blues.<\/p>\n

If you feel more depressed, lethargic and less motivated during the colder seasons, you could be suffering from SAD or seasonal affective disorder. If you feel your energy depleting and your mood significantly dropping once the colder and darker months of fall and winter arrive, you might have SAD.<\/strong> Less daylight, more darkness and frigid weather can affect your mental health and negatively impact your mood.<\/p>\n

How Exactly Are You Diagnosed With Seasonal Affective Disorder?<\/h2>\n

Before you can find out which seasonal affective disorder treatment options suit you best, you have to be properly diagnosed with the condition. Your doctor or psychiatrist will have to determine whether you suffer from anxiety, depression or seasonal affective disorder. <\/strong>To be officially diagnosed with SAD, your mental health will have to be monitored for a few consecutive winter seasons <\/strong>to see if the same symptoms present themselves each year with the seasonal change.<\/p>\n

Your doctor will most likely conduct a physical exam, blood work<\/a>, laboratory work, and refer you to a psychiatrist to rule out any underlying health problems that could mimic the symptoms of SAD. \u00a0Psychological evaluations are important for diagnosing SAD.<\/p>\n

While you\u2019re waiting for an official diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder, you can still try out various home remedies as treatment for the condition. This includes daylight imitating lightboxes (at-home light therapy) and vitamin D supplements.<\/p>\n

\"circlemagazine-circledna-seasonal-affective-disorder-treatment\"<\/figure>\n

Seasonal Affective Disorder Treatment: Why it\u2019s Important<\/h2>\n

Seasonal affective disorder is a mental health condition that can affect your mood, your weight, your job, and put a strain on your relationships. Many people with Seasonal affective disorder also have disordered sleeping patterns, withdraw from their social groups, and lose motivation. Significantly less energy during the colder seasons is another symptom of SAD.<\/p>\n

It is for these reasons that seeking out diagnosis and treatment is crucial. There are many home remedies for SAD, as well as professional treatment plans.<\/p>\n

Traditional Treatment Options for SAD<\/h2>\n

The traditional and professional treatment options for SAD are often used in conjunction with home remedies. Some of the seasonal affective disorder treatment options most commonly prescribed by doctors include:<\/p>\n