The weather is getting cooler with highs in the 70’s in Texas. The leaves are falling and changing color which means the fall is here and winter is around the corner. It’s the time of year we set our clocks back an hour the first weekend of November. While it’s nice to look forward to the holiday season coming up, for some people that can cause their mood to darken and fall into a depression. I wanted to look into why that is and what are some ways to possibly alleviate that problem.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression people get when the seasons change. It normally starts during the fall and winter when we turn back our clocks and it starts getting darker outside. The symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder normally start to go away when the sun starts setting later in the Spring and Summertime. The symptoms of SAD can include loss of energy, moods changing, failure to get accurate sleep and trouble concentrating on day to day tasks like work and school.
One reason people get seasonal depression is reduced sun exposure. With the sun being out less and the days getting shorter, our bodies can fall out of routine and disrupt our inner clock. One way to alleviate this is by spending more time outside when the sun is still out. Even with a busy schedule, a 15-30 minute walk can get you some vitamin D and help you to feel calm as you decompress after a long day. I really recommend going on a daily walk, and you can also listen to your favorite music or podcast if that helps to brighten your mood.
With the reduced sun exposure, colder weather can also cause seasonal depression. With cold weather, people tend to stay inside a lot more. While staying inside of the house, people can start to feel lonely and aren’t getting much social interaction with others. Some ways to change this would be to make plans with loved ones and also exercising by doing at home stretches and workouts.
While these are only some of the reasons why people get seasonal depression, there are also other symptoms people can have. While I’m not a doctor, I realize that some people start to feel like this when it turns to the fall and winter. If you or someone else starts to feel like this, just know that it’s more normal than you think. About 5% of the US population get seasonal depression each year. During the winter months, if you start to feel down, just know that you are not alone. There are people out there that want to help you get better.