As nights get longer and barren trees stare at you as you walk outside, a certain melancholy sets in this time of the year. Changing seasons trigger a dip in mood, energy, enthusiasm, and overall well-being. You tend to feel melancholic, and nothing seems to cheer you up. And now science confirms you are not alone in feeling this way.
It could be that you’re experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a mental condition that is much more than your usual ‘winter blues.’
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
SAD is a type of depression that affects you during the fall and winter months. As the sun shows up less, sunlight is scarce. When sunlight exposure decreases, your body reduces the release of serotonin, the resident mood booster. When this balance is offset, it can lead to the characteristic symptoms of SAD.
While you may not have heard much about it, SAD has been around for decades, and its effects can be quite serious if left unaddressed.
Who does it affect?
While anyone can experience SAD, it most commonly occurs in places where the winters are long and the days are short—think northern Europe, Canada, and parts of the US. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with SAD, but it often appears in young adults too.
What happens with SAD?
So, what happens when SAD decides to crash your mood party? Brace yourselves for a group of characters you wouldn’t invite to any party: low energy, excessive sleepiness, an insatiable craving for carbs (hello, comfort food!), and general feelings of mehs and blahs. Social withdrawal, difficulty concentrating, and even thoughts of worthlessness also accompany this unwelcome entourage.
SAD brings about a weird state of mental fog. You feel drained, energy levels plummet, motivation fades, simple daily tasks can feel overwhelming, and lethargy takes over.
Surprisingly, SAD doesn’t always fade once spring arrives. If untreated, it can linger and potentially be harmful as it progresses, and this is why it’s important to recognize and treat it head-on.
Fortunately, there are ways to manage and reduce its impact—and one effective approach is yoga.
