Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is diagnosed based on a number of key features that include more than the typical symptoms of clinical depression. Moreover, physicians are of the opinion that ATS is of two types. And depending on the type, the symptoms of the disease may vary slightly. What manifestations can indicate the development of SAD?
Seasonal depression - as it is sometimes called in a simplified version, SAD - can proceed in a conditionally mild (favorable) form or in the form of a severe disorder.
First type of ATS: favorable
The mild form of the disorder usually does not last longer than 4 months. As a rule, seasonal depression of this type delivers less discomfort to the patient and is easier to treat and correct.
ATS is characterized by:
- excessive sensitivity to weather changes;
- headaches, dizziness, general physical illness that is not caused by a cold or other illness;
- loss of strength, increased drowsiness, while sleep disorders in the form of short-term insomnia may be observed; due to a malfunction in the biological clock, a person experiencing an attack of seasonal affective disorder can literally confuse day with night;
- lethargy, lethargy;
- eating disorders, manifested in severe hunger, cravings for junk food, in the desire to consume more sweets and flour products;
- changes in weight; a patient with SAR may rapidly gain extra pounds;
- mood swings, negative emotions dominate.
Second type of ATS: severe form
In the case of a negative course of the disease, depressive episodes can be extremely long, up to 10 months. In this case, there may be a complete absence of "light gaps", when one depressive episode is replaced by another. Here, the risk of the formation of permanent sluggish depression increases.
Such a condition is rather difficult to correct, especially in a neglected form.
Key symptoms include:
- decreased appetite, almost complete absence of hunger;
- loss of interest in life, work, study, hobbies and various hobbies;
- lethargy;
- sleep disorders: the patient ceases to feel the need for rest, sleeps little and badly, falls asleep with difficulty, and after sleep at any time of the day he feels completely overwhelmed;
- loss of strength and mood;
- suicidal thoughts, feelings of doom and total hopelessness are possible;
- decreased response to any external stimuli and stimuli, including pain.
Additional symptoms
In addition to these distinctive symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, which are typical for one form or another of the disorder, basic symptoms are also distinguished.
- Depression, a state of decline, lack of desires and strength.
- Problems with memory, concentration, attention and thinking.
- General decrease in performance.
- Absent-mindedness, frequent proximity to tears, increased anxiety.
- Obsessions and thoughts.
- Minimal physical activity, a tendency to an extremely passive lifestyle, refusal to meet with friends, and so on.
- Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and / or emotional burnout, fatigue too quickly.
- Decreased general tone, lack of vitality.
- Loss of interest.
- Lack of emotional coloring of speech. A person with SAD tends to speak slowly, sluggishly, indistinctly, and reluctantly.
Seasonal affective disorder, like classic depression, is characterized by a deterioration in well-being in the morning. Morning is the most difficult time for people with SAR. By the evening, as a rule, the condition evens out a little.
In order for a suspicion of this diagnosis to appear, the symptoms must persist for at least two weeks in a row, without bright "light gaps". In this case, the general condition is not corrected using the available means. For example, herbal infusions and decoctions for insomnia or to increase the general tone do not work, coffee does not stimulate, the patient is unable to distract himself from a bad mood and gloomy thoughts.
Exacerbations of seasonal depression occur in spring, autumn and winter. And if for two years in a row a person begins to feel bad at the same time, this is a reason to seek help from a specialist.
