Seasonal Affective Disorder or Major Depression? Finding the Right Treatment Approach

Winter in Wisconsin can be brutal: With or without snow and ice, those seemingly endless gray, cold days can have a major impact on your mood, especially when combined with reduced natural sunlight and more time spent indoors. It’s not surprising, then, that many people develop feelings of depression, casually referred to as the “winter blues,” or, medically, seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

The good news (well, relatively good anyway) is that when sunnier, warmer days return, those blah, depressed feelings tend to leave, too. In the meantime, lifestyle changes like spending more time outside, sticking to a healthy diet and regular activity, and even using special sun-mimicking lighting can help.

However, if your feelings of sadness and depression linger, plaguing you all year round, you may be suffering from more than seasonal moodiness: You might be struggling with major depressive disorder (also called clinical depression, MDD, or just depression).

Here, there’s some good news, too: Depression is absolutely treatable — but it doesn't always respond to traditional therapies. At Revival Infusion Madison, Sarah Wilczewski, CRNA, APNP, offers ketamine therapy to help people with treatment-resistant depression finally find relief.

SAD vs. MDD: How to tell the difference

First, both SAD and MDD are “types” of depression, and both require treatment to relieve symptoms and improve both your physical health and your emotional wellness. That said, knowing which type you’re dealing with is the key to finding a solution that works.

Similarities

Because SAD and MDD both fall under the broad umbrella of mood disorders, it’s not surprising they cause similar symptoms. For example, both SAD and MDD involve persistently low moods and feelings of emptiness, isolation, “disconnectedness,” or hopelessness.

People with SAD and MDD typically experience a lack of pleasure in social activities or hobbies, and the symptoms of each disorder can take a big toll on their lives at home, at work, or at school, and during all sorts of daily living activities.

Key differences

The most obvious difference is that SAD symptoms are tied to seasonal changes and reduced natural light. MDD can — and does — cause symptoms at any time of the year; changes in seasons may exacerbate symptoms, but the return of light and warmth in the spring causes little (or no) change.

Likewise, while both MDD and SAD are associated with fatigue or excessive sleeping, MDD can involve either sleeping too much or not sleeping enough. SAD is also often associated with cravings for carb-laden foods and associated weight gain, while MDD may or may not cause cravings or weight changes.

Help for treatment-resistant depression

For many people, SAD and MDD are treated in a similar way, through a combination of lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, and medications, along with light therapy for SAD symptoms. Unfortunately, these approaches aren’t always effective, and treatment failure can wind up deepening feelings of hopelessness and frustration. 

Here, there’s some really good news: Ketamine therapy has emerged in recent years as a safe, effective treatment option for many people with treatment-resistant depression, including both SAD and MDD. That’s probably because while usual antidepressant medications work on neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, ketamine targets different pathways that are more heavily involved in people with treatment-resistant types of depression.

Ketamine is frequently used alongside other treatment options, like psychotherapy and lifestyle changes, and like antidepressant medications, it’s “dosed” based on your needs. Regular check-ins ensure your therapy, dose, and frequency stay aligned with your symptoms, helping you enjoy improved emotional wellness and a better quality of life overall.

Find a solution that works for you

Depression can have a major impact on every aspect of your life. If traditional therapies haven’t been helping, ketamine could be the answer you’ve been looking for. To learn more, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Revival Infusion Madison in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, today.