Seasonal affective dysfunction (SAD) is usually related to autumn and winter months, however it might additionally emerge throughout the summer season season, inflicting important psychological difficulties.
Summer is usually thought to be a time of happiness and vitality, characterised by heat climate, holidays and out of doors actions. However, for some people, summer season can set off signs similar to low vitality, restlessness, sleep disturbances, urge for food adjustments and a common sense of interior unease.
Experts word that summer season seasonal melancholy is usually triggered by excessive warmth, excessive humidity, disruptions in sleep patterns and the atypical results of extended or intense daylight publicity.
Expert insights
Özlem Balaban, a specialist in Mental Health and Psychiatric Disorders at Bakırköy Mazhar Osman Research and Training Hospital, defined to Anadolu Agency (AA) that melancholy is a standard situation, and seasonal melancholy is taken into account a subtype of this sickness.
Balaban emphasised that seasonal melancholy is characterised by recurrent depressive episodes in particular seasons. “We generally expect individuals to recover during spring and summer. However, in some patients, depression recurs during these seasons rather than in autumn and winter, which is a less common pattern. This relates to factors causing depression, one of which is disruption in the biological rhythm of the body,” she acknowledged.
Balaban defined that the human physique operates on a 24-hour circadian rhythm, and disruption of this rhythm will increase the danger of melancholy. She described melancholy as a state the place an individual feels considerably down, sad and torpid in comparison with their typical self.
Symptoms of melancholy embody lack of pleasure in life (anhedonia), lack of curiosity in beforehand loved actions, low vitality, impaired consideration and focus, adjustments in sleep and urge for food, slowed actions, and intense emotions of guilt or worthlessness.
In seasonal melancholy, related signs are anticipated, together with a pervasive sense of unhappiness and temper decline. Specifically in summer season melancholy, sufferers usually expertise decreased sleep or insomnia, which might result in extreme daytime sleepiness, elevated urge for food, weight acquire and cravings for carbohydrate-rich meals.
Importance of therapy
Balaban underlined that melancholy is a big public well being concern however is treatable. She confused the significance of consulting a psychiatrist, as prognosis and therapy require skilled medical experience.
“This is not something a person can overcome alone through casual conversation or home remedies. Treatment should be based on scientific medical knowledge,” she stated.
The therapy of melancholy varies relying on the severity of signs. In gentle to reasonable circumstances, psychotherapy is often step one. For reasonable to extreme melancholy, treatment is usually crucial.
Balaban famous that melancholy therapies are constant worldwide. “We are fortunate in our health care system; we have access to all treatments available internationally. Recently, bright light therapy has become more common, especially for seasonal depression. It is widely used in northern countries such as Norway and Sweden, where winters are longer and darker compared to our sun-rich, four-season climate. Bright light therapy has proven effective for treating seasonal depression,” she stated.
Highlighting psychiatry as a profitable medical area with many therapy choices, Balaban inspired people experiencing any psychological well being points to hunt skilled assist.
“In psychiatry, we have many treatment options tailored to fit the unique needs of each person. Therefore, anyone feeling psychological distress should definitely consult a psychiatrist,” she concluded.
Source: www.dailysabah.com