When the fall and winter seasons set in it’s natural to feel a little out of sorts as the time change impacts your circadian rhythm, the days get shorter, and sunshine wanes. But for many people, this time of year can trigger more severe symptoms that are signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
At Illuminate IV Therapy, we’ve had great success helping individuals suffering from SAD. Because this condition presents much like regular depression, ketamine can treat many of the symptoms, and you may feel better more quickly than if you used traditional treatment methods such as SSRIs. Ketamine has proven to be an ideal option for our patients who struggle with seasonal depression.
What is SAD and What Causes it?
Seasonal affective disorder, also called seasonal depression, occurs typically in fall or winter. People struggling with SAD experience symptoms beginning in the fall that become more intense as winter comes around. As spring begins, their symptoms generally dissipate.
While there’s no known cause of SAD, it’s been closely linked to less sunlight exposure and shorter days people experience in the fall and winter months. It’s also been tied to increased melatonin production since the body produces more melatonin, which impacts sleep patterns and mood when it gets darker outside. Less sunlight exposure can also cause a decrease in serotonin levels, which can spark depression.
SAD Symptoms
Many symptoms of SAD are similar to typical depression, which is why ketamine treatment is so effective. The main difference is that the SAD symptoms don’t last year-round and are generally less severe than a traditional diagnosis of depression.
Some common SAD symptoms include:
- Feeling sad almost every day during fall and winter.
- Sleeping more than usual.
- Overeating or experiencing weight gain.
- Losing interest in activities.
- Feeling hopeless, guilty, or worthless.
- Suicidal ideation.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Decreased energy level.
- Change in appetite.
- No desire to be social.
Ketamine Therapy Gets Quick Results
Since ketamine therapy effectively treats depression in many patients, it makes sense that it can also successfully treat SAD. In fact, ketamine therapy for SAD often gets great results when other traditional treatments, such as SSRI’s, don’t work.
One of the benefits of ketamine is that you don’t have to wait weeks or months for relief, which in some cases can be a big part of the winter season. Many people begin to feel better just a few hours after their infusion. Ketamine therapy can also be used alongside traditional SAD treatment methods, such as light therapy and psychotherapy. Another advantage of ketamine is that once symptoms are under control, there’s no reason to continue treatments through the spring and summer months. In many cases, the therapy works to resolve SAD symptoms permanently.
Illuminate IV Therapy Can Help You Overcome Seasonal Depression
At Illuminate, we believe in the power of ketamine therapy to not only alleviate symptoms but to offer a deeper, more lasting path to physical, mental, and emotional wellness. When we treat patients for SAD, our team creates a tailored plan to help them quickly overcome the depression-like symptoms associated with this common disorder. At the same time, we’re looking closely at the SAD diagnosis to ensure that other, sometimes more serious, aspects of depression aren’t at the root of someone’s mental health struggles. Contact us today to learn more about how the experienced medical providers can help you or a loved one conquer SAD.
