Winter Blues? There might be a solution.
In many cases, winter brings a persistent sadness alongside the cold that settles into our bones. In recent years, the expansion of our knowledge of mental health has led to this being given a name: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Within the college itself, 85% of students in a survey said that they experienced a low mood during winter, a symptom consistent with SAD. Other characteristics of this condition include a loss of interest in everyday life, feeling lethargic, difficulty concentrating and a persistent low mood.
So, what causes it?
The exact cause of SAD is still unknown, but there are several suggested theories; the most popular of which is regarding the reduced exposure to sunlight caused by the short days of autumn and winter. The reduced sunlight is associated with the hypothalamus, a part of the brain functioning is responsible for maintaining stable internal conditions and therefore, dictates many hormonal processes. As such, when it malfunctions, it can lead to a decrease in the production of serotonin, which can then affect appetite, mood, and sleep, leading to a person being more depressed. It also causes an increase in the production of melatonin, making people sleepier.
All of these culminate in making us feel sleepy, sad, irritable, and unfocused, making winter miserable, and summer seem like the even more attractive time of year.
So, can it be fixed?
Whilst there is no end-all cure for SAD, there are several suggestions for treatments that can alleviate many of the symptoms.
There are several seem to have a positive impact on symptoms, such as exposure to more natural sunlight, engaging in exercise, and attempting to manage stress levels within your life.
Another popular option is a process called light therapy, wherein a special kind of lamp, known as a light box, is used to mimic exposure to sunlight, thereby helping the hypothalamus to properly function.
Moreover, a slightly cheaper (albeit slightly less effective) option is taking Vitamin D supplements, which should also aid the hypothalamus in functioning. The government actually recommends that anyone over the age of four takes vitamin D supplements in winter and autumn regardless, due to the lack of sunlight leading to Vitamin D deficiencies. These are a cheaper and more accessible option with 120 tablets costing only £4.35 at Tesco.
Talking therapies are also considered an effective option if the problem does not improve with the implementation of the other strategies.
The NHS recommends going to your GP if the problem grows large enough to be severely affecting your daily function as there is also the option of anti-depressants, though these are far harder to access – particularly for people under 18 – so using more natural methods is considered best.