Hypothalamus Mood

Opposite effect of the spring when new life begins grow, and fresh color appears this makes her happier. Every year around the same time the symptoms will begin.

*Dysthymia: low mood occurring for at least two years, along with at least two other symptoms of depression.

There are several types of depression some of them are but may not be limited to: Major Depression one is said to experience this most days of the week. Bipolar Disorder, these individuals experience mood episodes that can result in high energy to low depressive periods. Seasonal Affective Disorder is said to affect one mostly during the winter months when one is unable to obtain as much sunlight due to the days growing shorter. Postpartum Depression is a major depression that may affect some women in the weeks and months after birthing a child. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder may affect some women at the start of their menstrual cycles each month. 'Situational' Depression may affect an individual when they are having trouble managing a stressful event in their life, such as a death in the family, a divorce, or losing a job. People with psychotic depression have the symptoms of major depression along with "psychotic" symptoms. For some one having atypical depression, a positive event can temporarily improve your mood (WebMD, 2014). This disease is devastating for both the individual it affects as well as his/her environment.

Seasonal depression occurs only at a certain time of the year, usually winter, because the number of daylight hours is lower. Another form of depression is psychotic depression, which is when depression and hallucinations are experienced at the same time. They all have different symptoms and should be approached differently to receive the correct treatment.

Depression is a real mental condition that affects many people around the world. It affects all ages, social backgrounds and genders. There are many signs and symptoms of depression. Common symptoms of depression are sleeping problems, great weight loss or gain, headaches, being tired regularly and being overwhelmed. A lowering mood is known to alter one’s sleeping patterns whether if they are waking too early or sleeping in, greatly impacting the way they would

However, these winter blues can change their daily lives for the worse. The medical field calls this Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD for short. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff, SAD usually begins and ends the same time every year. Most commonly, it is during the late Fall and Winter months, but can also be seen in Spring and Summer. While almost anyone could be affected by this, it is most common in women, those who lose significant sunlight during winter, and those aged 15-55 (¨Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)- Topic¨). Seasonal Depression has a magnitude of symptoms and they can change due to which season is causing the problem. Overall, there has been reported problems of insomnia, low energy, irritability, and appetite changes (¨Seasonal Affective Disorder

After Meesters modified Rosenthal’s definition, it was possible to diagnose correctly many more patients under the umbrella of SAD. Thus, as greater numbers of people were diagnosed, observed trends began to develop. Three in particular were noticed early on, and continue to prove true today. They included an overall lower rate of SAD in children compared to the general population, an increasing diagnosis rate in adolescents, and a much higher rate in adult females versus males. One study that became instrumental in establishing concrete evidence for the rates in children and adolescents was conducted after the inherent trends were noticed throughout the general population.

The seasonal symptoms experienced by someone with SAD align with other forms of major depression and include feelings of uselessness or unimportance, fatigue, lack of interest in once enjoyable tasks, sleeplessness, appetite and weight fluctuations, lethargy and irritability, problems focusing and suicidal ideation (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2016). These symptoms may differ somewhat depending on the seasons with which the individual is experiencing the episodes of depression. For instance, individuals who experience depressive episodes during the winter tend to overeat, have decreased energy, experience excessive sleepiness, gain weight, crave carbohydrates, and are socially isolated (The National Institute of Mental Health, 2016). On the other hand, individuals who experience episodes of depression during the spring and summer tend

Although, depression may be the only condition suffered from at the time, it frequently happens to be a side effect of another disease, such as cancer,

Due to the reduced daylight time frame within the fall and winter months along with the reduced sunshine light throughout the day, the light has potential to affect the optimal mood in a person’s behavior pattern (Partonen & Lonnqvist, 2002). Although researchers have concluded to various theories explaining the relationship between SAD and light, yet the majority have agreed that there is a significant relationship between sunshine light and the circadian cycle. Considering the rhythmic biological cycle as a main factor in SAD, one study states the amount of the hormone melatonin produced in one’s brain is probably the best index of circadian timing (Arendt, 2012). In addition, there has been additional evidence of phase delay in the timing of circadian rhythms in SAD patients as well (Partonen & Lonnqvist, 2002). According to Moscovici (2006), it is assumed “that the decrease in daylight exposure affects circadian rhythms via the retinal-hypothalamic pathways and the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the endogenous body clock, and the melatonin secretion through the pineal gland, subsequently affecting serotonin metabolism in such a way that it causes the kind of mood alterations seen in SAD.” Therefore, researchers in the clinical community began implementing light therapy to treat their SAD

It may be from brain changes that could’ve been caused by trauma at a young age. “Drug or alcohol abuse, illness, long-term pain, anxiety, sleep problems, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may also be linked to depression.” (webmd) “ SAD seems to be triggered by more limited exposure to daylight; typically it comes on during the fall or winter months and subsides in the spring. Symptoms are similar to general depression and include lethargy, loss of interest in once-pleasurable activities, irritability, inability to concentrate, and a change in sleeping patterns, appetite, or both.”

We can start with the decrease of a virtual function such as respiration.We have found several mood disorders marked by the loss of interest and the pleasure to live. (2009 F.A Davis Company).The list of disorders that link to depression include dysthymia,major depressive disorder,bipolar disorders,seasonal affective disorders postpartum depressive disorders,and also mood disorders,that are caused by substance abuse and many other medical conditions. (2009 F.A Davis Company).Many conditions can trigger depression from anxiety to neurologic disorders. A simple screening tool for depression that the U.S Preventative Services Task Force recommends that a patient should have it done in a primary care setting.(2009 F.A Davis Company).Screening

Having dealt with this myself, I know that it can majorly deteriorate the mental health of the sufferer. It starts out as feeling slightly fatigued and wanting to sleep more, and increases at a rapid rate to sometimes severe side effects, like suicidal thoughts or actions. Other symptoms and signs to look for are a weight gain, loss of interest, tiredness, difficulty concentrating and staying on task, and thoughts of hopelessness and worry (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017). While not all of these symptoms are applicable to all sufferers, many people face these obstacles through the entirety of winter. In the cases of SAD in the summer, symptoms are generally the opposite. Things to pay attention to in the summer are troubles sleeping, weight loss, anxiety and restlessness (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017). Though these two types of Seasonal Affective Disorder are fairly contradictory symptome wise, they both affect many people ver

The exact psychopathology of SAD has proven difficult to come by. The definitive cause is not known and the prevailing theory, or theories, is that it may have many elements that contribute to its development (Mayo Clinic, 2014). Some causes include possible genetic links, the patient’s brain chemistry, developmental delays and perhaps exposure to toxins, or viral illness in-utero (Mayo Clinic, 2014). Specific risk factors that may lead to a

Dysythymia Depression is and extended form of Minor Depression because it can last for years