Can Medications Treat Seasonal Affective Disorder?

As the seasons start to change you may begin to notice yourself feeling changed as well. Some of these changes can feel welcomed and others not so much. For many, changing seasons can bring changing moods and declining energy levels. These changes can be an indication of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) .SAD is a type of depressive disorder that typically occurs during the fall and winter months when daylight hours are shorter.

While lifestyle changes and light therapy are often thought of as first-line treatments, psychiatric medications can also be a powerful option.

How Can Medications Help?

As the days get shorter we experience less sunlight. These changes have been associated with increased melatonin levels and fluctuations in serotonin. All of this can wreak havoc on your mood and mental health. Approximately 5% of US adults experience SAD, however, it is likely that those numbers are much higher as many just try to tough out symptoms.

GoodRx suggests the following medications and supplements can be helpful in treating symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder:

  1. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): These medications can increase serotonin which can in turn improve your mood.
  2. Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs): This class of medication can increase both norepinephrine and dopamine which influence mood.
  3. Vitamin D: When there is less sunlight our bodies are less able to create vitamin D. Low levels of this vitamin have been associated with depression.

While no medication is a cure all, addressing your symptoms with a licensed psychiatric professional can help you begin your journey toward feeling better.

Start Enjoying All the Seasons Again

Finding a comprehensive treatment plan directed at treating your unique symptoms and needs is important. Carolina Counseling Services contracts with licensed psychiatric prescribers who care about you and your needs. SAD is treatable. Many find relief through a combination of approaches including light therapy, healthy lifestyle changes, therapy and psychiatric medication management.

CCS in Durham, North Carolina believes that you deserve to enjoy all the seasons. Don’t try to tough it out this season, call CCS today to schedule your first appointment.

Contracted therapists and prescribers are in network with most major insurances including Aetna, Aetna State Health Plan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), Tricare, Medicaid and many more!

Jaime Johnson Fitzpatrick LCMHCS, LCAS is one of the Owners and Vice Presidents of Carolina Counseling Services. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist in the State of North Carolina as well as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in State of New York. Jaime is also certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and utilizes various other approaches in her practice.