Seasonal Depression Is Real – Here's What You Need to Know
Do you experience feelings of depression or melancholy during the winter months? Do those feelings begin to set in just after daylight saving time ends? If so, you're not alone. Seasonal depression is real. We didn't know it 50 years ago, but we know it today. And thankfully, depression therapy can help.
Even here in Miami, people experience seasonal depression. It is hard to imagine that in a tropical paradise known the world over. And yet, it still happens. Seasonal depression is actually tied to sunlight. The less you are exposed to sunlight, the greater the chances that you experience a decline in mood. Thus, seasonal depression tends to occur from the late fall through the end of winter.
The Winter Blues
For the longest time, our culture referred to seasonal depression as the ‘winter blues’. We had no other name in the absence of a clinical diagnosis. And of course, a lot of what we thought were just the winter blues was attributed to colder temperatures, being stuck indoors, and even the letdown that typically follows the holidays. All those things contribute, but seasonal depression really goes back to the shorter days and longer nights.
What does seasonal depression look like? People often describe:
a depressed mood
feelings of melancholy
anxious feelings
food cravings
a greater need for sleep
less interest in physical activity
a loss of self-esteem.
Looking at the symptoms, it is easy to understand why we used to call seasonal depression the winter blues. You have all the feelings that accompany the blues – from melancholy to a lack of motivation.
Everyone Is Susceptible
It is important to note that seasonal depression doesn't single out certain kinds of people. Everyone and anyone are susceptible. Again, much of what causes seasonal depression goes back to daylight hours. Everyone who lives in Miami is exposed to the same amount of daylight. The same goes for New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
This is not to say that some people aren't at higher risk. Some are. Young people, women, and people with a general history of mood disorders are more likely to experience seasonal depression than others.
The Role Sunlight Plays
As we wrap up this post, let's talk about how seasonal depression is influenced by sunlight. As the days get shorter and the nights longer, a person's normal sleep-week cycle can be affected. Likewise for meal schedules, work schedules, and even routine daily tasks. Simply put, we adjust the way we do things to accommodate the shorter days.
In addition, sleep-wake cycles are regulated naturally by the human body through something known as the circadian rhythm. This rhythm also influences metabolism, hormone production, and human growth.
Sunlight, Melatonin and Serotonin
Part of this cycle is the release of a hormone known as melatonin. Among other things, it tells the body it's time to sleep. Guess what triggers it? Darkness. In some people, winter's longer nights mean more melatonin production.
Another hormone, serotonin, also plays a role. Serotonin gets converted into melatonin under lower light conditions. Normally, serotonin regulates a number of functions including mood and the circadian rhythm. So during the winter, as more serotonin is being converted into melatonin due to less light, there is also less serotonin to regulate the mood.
Whether you call it the winter blues or seasonal depression, feelings of anxiety and depression are pretty normal during the winter months. The good news is that seasonal depression is manageable by way of depression therapy, light therapy, and other means. If you would like to know more and you are in the greater Miami area, let’s talk.
