Treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Depending on your individual symptoms, your health care physician may begin treatment even before your symptoms actually surface at the beginning of the season. He may also recommend that you continue to take this medication once your seasonal symptoms end. The theory to this type of treatment is to prevent a worsening of the symptoms the following year.

Conventional Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder

SAD is, indeed, quite easily treated once it’s recognized. Usually it is treated with antidepressants. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the extended release tablets Wellbutrin XL – bupropion specifically for individuals affected with SAD. Your health care practitioner may prescribe you other antidepressant drugs, though.

Other antidepressants your health care practitioner may prescribe for this type of depressive episode include paroxetine (sold as Paxil), sertraline (sold as Zoloft), fluoxetine (sold under the name brands of Prozac and Sarafem) as well as venlafaxine (sold as Effexor).

Once you begin your treatment begins – regardless of the type of antidepressant you’re taking — the medications may take a minimum of several weeks to provide you with the full benefits. Similarly, don’t be disappointed if the first medication doesn’t work as well as your health care physician initially thought. It may be that you’ll have to try several antidepressants before you and your health care physician hit upon the one that works for you.

Before you agree to take any of these antidepressant medications, though, be sure you are fully aware of the adverse side effects of these drugs. For many people, these side effects are even worse than experiencing the depression itself. In fact, many antidepressants now carry the strongest of FDA warnings: the black box warning. Some teenagers and young adults are at higher risk of committing suicide when taking these medications.

If you’re not quite sure that strong prescription antidepressants are the correct route for you, there are two other conventional treatments. The first is psychotherapy. SAD is indeed a disorder that is related to the biochemical processes of your body, your mood and your behavior are also nonetheless contributing factors to the severity of your symptoms.

Undergoing psychotherapy may help you identify and ultimately alter your negative thoughts and behaviors. While these aren’t the primary causes of your depression, managing these aspects of your problem may provide you additional relief.

Alternative Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder

If you suffer from SAD, ask your health care practitioner about light therapy. Many in the health care field consider light therapy the first line of defense in the treatment of seasonal affective disorder.

Light therapy is especially recommended for those people who are searching for an alternative to antidepressants. When you undergo this type of treatment, you’ll sit in front of a 10,000 lux light box containing plastic-covered white fluorescent light tubes. The plastic screen blocks any exposure to ultraviolet rays.

When this therapy was originally devised, it was thought that only full-spectrum lighting would alleviate the symptoms of SAD. Full spectrum lighting mimics sunlight, providing for every spectrum of the sun’s rays. In the 25-some years that light therapy has been used, it’s been shown that full spectrum is not necessary.

Most experts in the field of light therapy recommend about 90 minutes of exposure daily, for optimum results. This therapy normally continues until the end of winter. Most people who use this method say that they can feel its beneficial effects in as little as two to four days. In others, it takes up to several weeks. Discontinue using light therapy if, after a month to six weeks, you discover no improvement in your symptoms.

If you prefer an herbal supplement, you may want to make St. John’s Wort one of your first choices. Its ability to lift a depressed mood is legendary among herbalists. According to the research performed on this plant, it works by stimulating the neurotransmitters involved in creating the depression in the first place. It is especially effective at boosting serotonin levels in the brain, which greatly influences your emotions.

St. John’s Wort is used widely in Germany which has a rich history of herbal use. St. John’s Wort is so trusted, in fact, that approximately 30 million prescriptions are written for it as a natural antidepressant yearly. If you plan to use this herb, it’s best that you consult with your local professional herbalist to discover the proper serving for your individual symptoms.

Also keep in mind you should also consult with your personal health care practitioner before you start using St. John’s Wort not only to obtain his advice, but also to ensure that this herb won’t interfere with any medications you’re currently taking.

Reference: