Brrrrr! With record cold temperatures this week in northern Utah, everyone knows winter has arrived. For many, the change of seasons, winter sports, approaching holidays, and the coziness of a fireplace are anticipated all year. But for some, the cold weather and changing seasons can trigger depression and anxiety, or worsen symptoms of an existing mental health condition. Ketamine Infusion Therapy may help relieve symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and other forms of depression when other treatments have failed.
Seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can come and go with the seasons. Symptoms usually appear in the late fall and early winter and going away during the spring and summer. Winter episodes of SAD are much more common than occurrences during the summer months.
Although seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is not diagnosed as a separate disorder, it is a type of depression that follows a recurring seasonal pattern. Symptoms may include feeling depressed nearly every day, feeling hopeless or worthless, having low energy, losing interest in activities you once enjoyed, having problems with sleep, experiencing changes in your appetite or weight, feeling sluggish or agitated, having difficulty concentrating, or having frequent thoughts of death or suicide. ²
According to Mayo Clinic, those who experience winter-pattern SAD may feel like hibernating or otherwise escaping social interaction with others. Other symptoms may include having low energy, hypersomnia, overeating, weight gain, and having a craving for lots of carbohydrates. ¹
3 Possible Causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
- Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. This decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body’s internal clock and lead to feelings of depression.
- Serotonin levels. A decrease in serotonin, a brain chemical that affects mood, might play a role in SAD. Reduced sunlight can cause a decrease in serotonin that may trigger depression.
- Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body’s level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood. ¹
Mayo Clinic recommends that you not disregard that yearly feeling as simply a case of the “winter blues” or a seasonal funk and try to tough out on your own. A combination of psychotherapy or medications may help alleviate your symptoms. Light therapy (phototherapy) may also be effective.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy and antidepressants are standard treatments for all types of depression, but still do not relieve symptoms in some patients. Ketamine is a treatment that is being discussed and utilized more often for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD) and may be helpful for those experiencing seasonal affective disorder.
Some research indicates that depression could be linked to a loss of synaptic connectivity, controlled by glutamate in the brain. Ketamine may enhance synaptic connectivity in these circuits, resulting in symptom relief. ³
Glutamate regulates large regions of the nervous systems and is the most prominent neurotransmitter in the brain. When glutamate receptors are over-activated, as in cases of major depressive disorder (MDD), a person may experience depression and anxiety. Ketamine works by blocking glutamine receptors in the brain. Some studies suggest depression may stem from a lack of synaptic connectivity. Ketamine infusion therapy works by enhancing synaptic connectivity in brain circuitry, which may provide relief from depression symptoms.
Ketamine may be able to reverse the effects of stress and depression. Because glutamate synapses play a critical role in the brain, ketamine may enhance synaptic connectivity in brain circuits, ultimately relieving, and even reversing, the effects of stress. ³
Ketamine is an effective depression treatment because it works quickly and may work when other treatments have failed. Ketamine treatment may work especially well among patients who are resistant to other forms of treatment like anti-depressants and cognitive therapy. According to the National Center of Biotechnical Information, ketamine is gaining popularity in treating major depressive disorder (MDD) that has previously been treatment-resistant. Although not approved by the FDA, ketamine is also gaining popularity for treatment-resistant MDD, because of the rapid onset of efficacy. ³
Ketamine Infusion therapy is available in Ogden, Utah and can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and others. Ketamine is a safe drug, primarily used as a painkiller, and is one of the World Health Organization’s essential medicines. It has been used as a painkiller for more than 50 years. Ketamine is effective when administered in a controlled setting and as part of a medically recommended treatment plan. It is given in low doses by licensed medical personnel and the patient is carefully monitored to ensure safe delivery.
Visit http://www.therapyreset.com for more information about ketamine infusion therapy, or visit our office in Ogden, Utah to schedule a free consultation with our licensed doctors. Therapy Reset serves all of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana, including the cities of Ogden, Layton, Kaysville, Brigham City, Logan, Clearfield, Syracuse, Roy, Centerville, and Farmington.
² https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/seasonal-affective-disorder/index.shtml