HOW TO TREAT SEASONAL DEPRESSION IN AYURVEDA

DESCRIPTION

• Seasonal depression is a mood disorder that happens mostly during winter season.
• It is a form of depression known as seasonal depression or winter depression rarely known as “summer depression”.
• Seasonal affective disorder starts in fall or winter and ends in spring or early summer season.
• Mild version of seasonal depression is known as the “winter blues” where people feel a little down during colder months. 
• Mood changes are more serious in some cases and affect person feels, thinks, and daily activities.
• Significant changes in mood and behavior whenever the seasons change then people have been suffering from seasonal depression disorder a type of depression.
• People with season depression experience mood changes similar to depression. 
• The symptoms of seasonal depression usually occur during the fall and winter months, when there is less sunlight and improve with the arrival of spring season. 
• The most difficult months for people with seasonal depression is January and February. 
• Seasonal depression mainly occur in people who living far from the equator where there is fewer daylight hours.
  

SIGN AND SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of SAD may include:-

• Feeling listless, sad or down most of the day, nearly every day
• Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
• Having low energy and feeling sluggish
• Having problems with sleeping too much
• Experiencing carbohydrate cravings, overeating and weight gain
• Having difficulty concentrating
• Feeling hopeless, worthless or guilty
• Having thoughts of not wanting to live

FALL AND WINTER SEASONAL DEPRESSION

Symptoms specific to winter-onset seasonal depression may include:

• Oversleeping
• Craving for high in carbohydrates foods
• Weight gain
• Tiredness or low energy

SPRING AND SUMMER SEASONAL DEPRESSION

Symptoms specific to summer-onset seasonal affective disorder also called summer depression may include:

• Insomnia
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss
• Agitation or anxiety
• Increased irritability
  

CAUSES

The exactly causes of seasonal depression is not known. Lack of sunlight may trigger the condition in people who are prone to getting seasonal depression. Some causes may include:-

• Biological clock change 

• When people has less exposure to sunlight their biological clock shifts. 
• This internal clock regulates mood, sleep and hormones. 
• When this clock change people may have trouble to regulating their moods.
  

• Imbalance in brain chemical 

• Neurotransmitters are brain chemical that send signals between nerves. 
• These chemical are serotonin which play role to feelings of happiness. 
• People with seasonal depression have less serotonin activity. 
• Sunlight helps regulate serotonin.
• Lack of winter sunlight make people situation worse. 
• Decreased serotonin levels leading to mood changes.
  

• Vitamin D deficiency 

• Serotonin level get boost from vitamin D. 
• sunlight helps to produce vitamin D
• Less sun exposure in the winter season can lead to vitamin D deficiency that can affect serotonin and mood.
  

• Melatonin 

• Melatonin affects sleep patterns. 
• Overproduction of melatonin in people when there is lack of sun and people feel sluggish and sleepy.
  

• Negative thoughts 

• People seasonal depression suffering from stress, anxiety and negative thoughts during the winter season.

CAN I PREVENT SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

• Use light box
• Spend time outside every day
• Eat a well-balanced diet
• Exercise
• Stay involved with social circle and regular activities.
• Seeing a mental health professional 
• Consider medications
  

RISK FACTOR

• Family history 
• Having major depression or bipolar disorder
• Living far from the equator
• Low level of vitamin D
• Live in cloudy regions.
  

COMPLICATION

• Social withdrawal
• School or work problems
• Substance abuse
• Other mental health disorders such as anxiety or eating disorders
• Suicidal thoughts or behavior

TREATMENT

People may need a combination of treatments, including:

• Phototherapy – Bright light therapy, using a special lamp.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy – A type of talk therapy called can effectively treat SAD. 
• Antidepressant medication – sometimes anti-depressant medication recommend either alone or with light therapy.
• Spending time outdoors – Getting more sunlight can help improve symptoms. 
• Vitamin D – vitamin D supplement may help improve symptoms.

AYURVEDIC TREATMENT

• The doshas (vata,pitta,kapha) are three principles which regulate our minds and bodies.
• Doshas have biological and energetic properties 
• They regulate all physiological and psychological aspects of our lives.  
• These dosha are –

1. Vata (principles of air and space) 
2. Pitta (principles of fire and water) 
3. Kapha (principles of earth and water)

• Seasonal depression will affect us differently depending on which of our doshas are out of balance.

If Kapha goes out of balance –

• People get classic depression picture with lethargy and lack of motivation.  
• The body feels dull and heavy.  
• Eating more and sleeping 
• Get out and move, do some exercise.  
• Decreased food intake or take lighter and easier to digest food.  
• Cook with spicy herbs such as ginger and black pepper.  
• Take vaca, brahmi and ashvagandha.

If Pitta is increased –

• The mental lightness is depressed 
• Feeling of irritation in the mind.  
• Decreased patience and people feel more irritability and anger 
• Increase addictive or self-destructive behavior.  
• Counteract this by cooling and moderating.  
• Talk a walk in sunshine area
• Massage particularly feet before bed with coconut oil.
• Take shatavari, brahmi and bala.

When Vata is aggravated – 

• The mental state tends towards anxiety 
• Insomnia.  
• Rebalance the vata by warmth and nourishment.  
• Keep warm, keep a routine and make environment as calm as possible.  
• Ground yourself with warm, nourishing, satisfying food.  
• Massage with sesame oil. 
• Take ashvagandha, bala, vaca and brahmi.