How often have you heard people say that they are feeling 'blah' or 'just not in the mood'? And have you realised that you hear this most in winter months? Every winter, people who typically describe themselves as happy feel a bit off and now there is an actual psychological explanation for this. It's called the Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and it's a research that continues to make connections between our minds, bodies and response to light and darkness, which determines how we feel from November to April.
What's more? SAD is more common in women and is more prevalent the farther north you go. Symptoms include anything from lethargy, trouble sleeping, sluggishness in the mornings, depressed mood, feeling withdrawn or antisocial, short-tempered or irritable. SAD is typically connected to the clock change with symptoms appearing late fall or early winter and then disappearing when there is more daylight, specifically in summer months.
A major misconception that people have is considering winter blues to not be a severe problem, however, the longer someone feels depressed, the more difficult it is not to feel depressed. And while you may connect the feeling just to cold weather, SAD is said to also be a chemical imbalance in the brain triggered by the loss of daylight. Treatment for the same includes a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy with a technique where people think of pleasurable activities done either indoors or out that help them cope through winter. 'Light-therapy' is also a great way to rid depression-like feelings.
So, the next time someone tells you they have the winter blues, you know exactly what they're talking about after this.
