Have you noticed that your normal everyday mood changes in correspondence to the change in the season? As the colder months roll around, do you become inexplicably sad or simply abnormal?
What plenty of people have experienced is very real. This is often referred to as “seasonal depression,” clinically known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD according to the National Institute of Mental Health’s official website. The website explains, “Many people feel ‘down’ or have the ‘winter blues’ when the days get shorter in the fall and winter and feel better in the spring when longer daylight hours return.” While it also explains that the same disruption can happen in the spring and summer, it is less common.
What causes winter-pattern Seasonal Affective Disorder? According to NIMH “Studies indicate that people with SAD have reduced levels of the brain chemical serotonin, which helps regulate mood.”
Research also shows that reduced sunlight during those months also has a huge effect on our human bodies. Reduced sunlight directly correlates to deficiency in vitamin D, which reduces serotonin needed for mood regulation.
The NIMH recommends a couple of ways of addressing SAD including light therapy, psychotherapy, antidepressant medication and vitamin D supplementation. While all these options are worth exploring, more ways to address winter-based SAD could also include exercising, monitoring diet and sleep schedule and socializing. Other creative ways may include spending extra intentional time with pets, reading engaging books and spending time outdoors when the weather is nice and inviting.
