Have you ever felt a bit more depressed during the winter season? If yes, you are not alone. Some surveys suggest that almost 1 out of 10 people have the blues in winter. And like always DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for mental disorders) has a name for this- Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. But just because you are sad in winter season as you can’t go out to play doesn’t make you the proud owner of this title. Actually, I’m not gonna discuss the clinical aspects of SAD in this article. Rather I’ll just stick with what we all experience in common. Oh, God! Is that why the line became so popular; WINTER IS COMING!!!
There have been many researches in the area, covering almost all aspects of this phenomenon. Still it’s hard to say with certainty its exact causes or consequences. However, we have some scientific speculations. The most important distinguishing factor between winter and other seasons is the lack of sunlight. And the unavailability of natural light can really mess up our mind.
Sunlight projects out both Ultra Violet A (UV A) and Ultra Violet B (UV B), out of which the later is essential for our proper functioning. The amount of UV B is directly related to the production of serotonin and dopamine, which affects our mood. Looking at this phenomenon from an evolutionary standpoint, we can see that in many ways humans mimic the behavior of hibernating animals during the winter seasons. If you paid attention in your elementary biology classes, you know that animals residing in high altitude areas often hibernate or sleep through the season and having a full tummy. Ask your parent or partner if they had to spend more on your food for the last winter. The answer would probably be a ‘yes’, or a weird look.
We do consume more food during the winter season as we need more energy to maintain our temperature. Also, it is found that in people with SAD or at least similar symptoms, the amount of melatonin is more than usual, which sings an irresistible lullaby and makes us sleep for longer. All these factors, in addition, acts as a positive loop to ensure SAD. People sleep for longer, thus making lesser social contact, reduced exercise, simulating solitary life, effectively leading to mild depression.
SAD is mostly observed in people living in higher altitudes. This means that the further you are from the equator, the more susceptible you are to Seasonal Affective Disorder. Psychologists mostly employ cognitive behavior therapies or CBT to deal with SAD. However recent studies point out a more effective treatment alternative; a lightbox (something that mimics natural light). Most of the studies conclude that light therapy is as effective as CBT when it comes to SAD, if not more. So, there is a reason we have that ‘happy bulb’ installed in our room.
