There is no doubt that Spring and Summer bring a sense of energy and rejuvenation to people, whereas Winter is a time of more enclosure, winding down and reflection. It was Virginia Wolf who said “Melancholy were the sounds on a winter’s night.” In the beginning of the year new life is born and during the colder months it is taken away.
As a result, many people feel the affects of the changing of the seasons and their moods are affected equally. Some people love Fall and Winter, while others start dreading it very early on. It’s one thing to feel the Winter Blues, but you shouldn’t discredit how you feel completely. Many people are affected by a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which can be a very serious issue that affects mood.
Do You Have Any Of These SAD Symptoms?
- Irritability
- Loss of sex drive
- Overeating
- Weight gain
- Oversleeping
- Increased craving of carbohydrates
- Body aches
- Trouble concentrating
If you experience any of these symptoms from Fall on, you should take it more seriously. Seasonal depression can affect your relationships with others, yourself and lead to extremely dark thoughts.
One possible explanation for why people suffer from SAD symptoms is because as we move further into the year the days get shorter. Despite some rumors that Seasonal Affective Disorder is related to the decrease in temperature it is actually a result of less exposure to natural sunlight.
Not getting enough vitamin D and sunlight can confuse the circadian rhythm which can affect certain people who are more susceptible to depression than others.
SAD can be treated usually with a combination of solutions which may include taking anti-depressant medication (SSRIs), getting more exercise, talking to trusted people about how you feel and getting more sunlight. The problem is that it can be difficult to get the right amount of sunlight that you need. This is why a device such as a SAD Lamp can be of great benefit as a therapy option.