Winter depression... when cloudy weather turns into psychological suffering

The expression "winter blues" is used to describe the feeling of lethargy, low energy, and low mood, which may affect some people as days become shorter, temperatures drop, and cloudy conditions spread during this time of year. But for some people, the matter is not limited to just a transient state of apathy or distress, but rather it may develop into a more profound problem.

"Seasonal Affective Disorder"!

A study conducted at the Cleveland Center for Medical Research in the United States revealed that between 10% and 20% of Americans may notice a slight decline in their mood during the winter.

When these symptoms become severe enough to affect daily activities, they may be an indication of a form of depression known as “seasonal affective disorder.”

Research indicates that there are several factors that may be responsible for this type of psychological disorder, including genetic factors, brain chemistry, and disruption of the body’s biological clock. Researcher Kelly Rohan, a professor of psychology at the University of Vermont, said in statements reported by the “HealthDay” website, which specializes in medical research, that these factors together may play a role in the emergence of this disorder.

Much research has focused on two chemicals in the brain that may be linked to seasonal affective disorder: serotonin, which helps regulate mood, and melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

Complicated situation!

According to the US National Institute of Mental Health, changes in the levels of serotonin and melatonin in people with the disorder affect the body's natural circadian rhythm, which makes adapting to changing daylight hours more difficult, and is reflected in sleep, mood, and behavior.

Seasonal affective disorder is associated with symptoms such as feeling sad, empty, or hopeless most hours of the day, low energy, a constant feeling of fatigue, difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions, irritability, anxiety, or feelings of guilt and worthlessness, and changes in sleep, appetite, or body weight.

There is no specific blood test or imaging test to diagnose seasonal affective disorder. Rather, the diagnosis depends on evaluating the symptoms and medical history, and verifying the recurrence of depressive episodes in the same season for at least two consecutive years.

Several methods are used to treat seasonal affective disorder, such as light therapy, where light therapy lamps are used to compensate for the lack of exposure to sunlight during the winter months, as well as psychological therapy, which helps people identify and modify negative behaviors, which contributes to improving the management of symptoms.

It is noteworthy that light therapy has been one of the most important methods for dealing with seasonal affective disorder associated with winter since the 1980s. It is believed to affect brain chemicals associated with mood and sleep, according to the Medical Express website, which deals with health news.

In this regard, psychologist Craig Sawchuk said: “Light therapy is one of the effective treatments that the body tolerates relatively easily.” It is also recommended to continue using the treatment until spring, or until the mood begins to improve naturally.