Recognizing the Signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder in Hermitage Seniors
SAD is seasonal depression that affects mood, sleep, energy, appetite, and social life. Catch it early; use morning light, CBT, routine, movement, and clinician support to stay well in Hermitage.
Knowing how to recognize the signs of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is key. The APA recognizes these symptoms as a distinct subtype of major depressive disorder. The key feature of this subtype is how depression symptoms come and go based on the changing of seasons.
Are you interested in learning more about effective seasonal support strategies for SAD? Read on to learn more information about the signs of seasonal affective disorder and appropriate seasonal support strategies.
What Are the Six Symptoms of SAD?
Everyone feels a little low during the colder seasons. Particularly during January and February, when the holiday season is gone, but the winter gloom and chill remain. Maintaining winter mental wellness is a challenging part of emotional health for seniors here in Hermitage, PA.
While most seniors will experience minor cases of the winter blues, for some, the persistent winter sadness represents a more serious affliction.
1. Persistently Low Mood
Seniors might experience a persistently low mood that recurs around the same time every year. Essentially, it's a major depressive episode that occurs during a particular season, most commonly winter.
2. Loss of Interest in Pleasurable Activities
The second symptom is a loss of interest in pleasurable activities. For example, a senior who is usually the life of the party might withdraw and isolate themselves.
Hobbies lose their appeal, and life just feels less fun.
3. Sleep Changes
Symptoms may also be sleep changes, and hypersomnia during the winter is particularly common. Hypersomnia is when people sleep for longer, and it's harder for them to wake up.
Seasonal affective disorder that occurs in the summer tends to be characterized by insomnia rather than excessive sleep. Both of these changes to sleep patterns can be quite debilitating.
4. Appetite and Weight Changes
There are also changes to nutrition that lead to weight changes. Seasonal depression that presents during the winter often results in a strong craving for carbohydrates, and emotional eating can lead to significant weight gain.
5. Low Energy and Lethargy
Another symptom of this depression subtype is low energy. Those suffering from SAD may find motivation difficult and may also feel physically lethargic with a heavy feeling in their limbs. People suffering from SAD are slow to get things going one day, wake up in the morning, and get tired quite early on.
6. Cognitive and Social Effects
Finally, there are social and cognitive effects. Seasonal depression makes it difficult to concentrate and think clearly. It has a massive impact on social interactions, with seniors experiencing:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Unusual challenges with making decisions
- Greater irritability
- Withdrawal from social interaction
What Are the Early Warning Signs of SAD?
It's important for seniors and their caregivers to recognize the signs of seasonal affective disorder. By recognizing the early warning signs, you can take preventive measures before the problematic months come around again. For those suffering from winter seasonal depression, these subtle signs are often visible in early fall.
Look out for things like:
- A dip in mood
- Energy crashes in the afternoon
- Sleeping for longer while still feeling unrefreshed
- Diminished concentration, motivation, and energy
Those who suffer from chronic seasonal depression tend not to rely on reading warning signs since these symptoms present consistently year after year. For those with persistent issues, protective wellness strategies need to be scheduled in advance.
How to Cure Seasonal Affective Disorder?
There is no conventional cure, but thankfully, according to the UK's National Health Service, SAD is highly treatable. Here are some of the most effective treatment options for older adults living a Hermitage, PA, senior lifestyle:
- Morning bright light therapy for about 20 to 30 minutes after waking
- Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and good sleep hygiene
- Daily outdoor daylight exposure
- Regular physical activity
- Clinician-directed medication options such as SSRIs or bupropion
- Vitamin D testing and supplementation if deficient, and use of a dawn simulator
In Hermitage, plan these steps with your care team before early autumn so they become habits by the time the days grow short.
FAQs
How Can I Tell the Difference Between Winter Blues and Signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder?
So how do you tell the difference between the winter blues and signs of seasonal affective disorder? The main ways to differentiate the two are the severity and recurrence. The winter blues are mild and transient, and the American Psychological Association doesn't consider this to be any kind of disorder. Instead, it's more of an emotional state that everyone feels to some degree.
On the other hand, SAD is recurrent and is very similar to major depressive disorder. According to the NIMH, if you experience persistent low mood and other depression symptoms for at least two weeks during a specific season, and if that emotional pattern recurs for two years or more, it could indicate that you have seasonal depression and not the winter blues.
How Can You Treat SAD at Home?
Thankfully, there is a lot you can do at home to reduce the symptoms of seasonal depression before seeing a doctor. Getting enough daylight can really help, and so can exercise. So, the most effective home treatments are often as simple as getting up early and taking a walk out in the morning, and getting some sunshine.
Strong social anchors, such as weekly classes or monthly family gatherings, can also reduce loneliness and depressive symptoms.
Discover a Supportive Community
Now you know the signs of seasonal affective disorder. It's possible to deal with mood changes in aging, especially if you make plans in advance.
Maintain a consistent routine, engage in daily physical activity, and rely on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or supportive counseling. You could also talk to a doctor about medication and vitamin D.
Loneliness and isolation are key drivers of seasonal depression. Senior living communities are an excellent way for seniors to connect with others and reduce seclusion. Here at Whispering Oaks, our independent living accommodations help our residents optimize their mental and physical health. We're also proud to offer a significant discount to our honored military veterans.
Are you interested in seeing what the Whispering Oaks lifestyle is all about? Contact us today, and let's set up a tour.