Seasonal Depression

Come winter and you invariably start to feel low. Cheer up, you’ve only the winter blues to blame! However, there’s little to cheer about if your acute winter depression makes you suicidal; it has been known to do just that for some! This ailment has been given the apt acronym of SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. It occurs mostly in women in their twenties and forties.

Symptoms of SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder

It’s well known that changing seasons affect animals. It alters their behavior, habits and metabolism. It has to, for it holds the key to their survival. However, very little is known about the effect of changing sunlight patterns on human moods and body chemistry. One interesting fact, however, is that the further away you’re from the equator, the more you’re likely to suffer from SAD, as the daylight hours reduce drastically. You’d be surprised to know that in Nordic countries up to twenty per cent of the population suffers from this dreadful condition, giving rise to an alarmingly high rate of winter suicides!

So, it’s no surprise SAD leads to a variety of symptoms that include craving and stuffing on carbohydrates and sugary foods, leading to weight gain; low mood, giving rise to depression and negative feelings; anxiety, irritability and tension; lethargy due to lack of motivation, leading to extreme fatigue; lack of libido; sleep problems, ranging from insomnia to early morning waking or difficulty in waking up. All this lowers the immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to the common winter ailments.

Although, this affliction starts in September, it’s at its worst in January and February. Its cause has been linked to melatonin, a sleep-related hormone secreted by the pineal gland in the brain. Since, the production of melatonin increases in the dark, the short and dark winter months are most suited for the symptoms of depression.