SAD: Did You Know That Seasons Can Impact Your Mental Health? Here’s Why

A season is several months in a year with similar weather patterns, and it differs depending on the region. In temperate areas, the year is expected to be divided into four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. South Korea also has four distinct seasons. While it’s great to enjoy the four seasons, some people feel depressed when the seasons change. We call this “seasonal depression.” So, let’s find out the causes and solutions for seasonal depression.

Is there a connection between weather and mood?

Before we look into seasonal depression, is the weather affecting our mood? Everyone has probably experienced feeling refreshed when the weather clears up after a string of cloudy or rainy days as if their sunken and gloomy mood has improved. It has been revealed that sunlight helps produce serotonin, widely known as the “happiness hormone.”

Daylight, temperature, and humidity matter

The factors that most significantly affect our mood are daylight, temperature, and humidity. Pleasant spring weather, with its abundant sunlight and mild temperatures, is associated with mood improvement, while hot and humid summer weather is linked to mood decline. The problem is that these mood changes can be classified as a type of depression, depending on the timing and symptoms.

What is seasonal depression?

So, what is the seasonal depression? It is a symptom that goes beyond daily mood changes, manifesting in a similar form of depression, such as feeling sluggish or tired and experiencing a mood decline during a particular season. This is called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression. It is characterized by symptoms appearing during a specific season and disappearing as the season changes in a repetitive cycle.

What are the symptoms of seasonal depression?

Seasonal depression can be divided into winter-type SAD and summer-type SAD. Winter-type SAD mainly shows symptoms in autumn and winter, while summer-type SAD mainly shows depression in summer. Both summer and winter types experience increased anxiety and mood decline when under stress.

What’s the difference between winter-type SAD and summer-type SAD?

An increase in appetite characterizes winter-type SAD. Moreover, people with this type of SAD tend to sleep more, experience severe lethargy, and isolate themselves from social relationships. Summer-type SAD, on the other hand, shows symptoms of decreased appetite, insomnia, anxiety and restlessness, and frequent irritability. If such depressive symptoms appear and disappear repeatedly for more than two years, it can be diagnosed as seasonal depression.

Not everyone suffers from seasonal depression

Not everyone suffers from seasonal depression because it depends on diverse personalities. Some people have innate traits that allow them to respond more resiliently to the weather, and there are also personality traits. The biggest reason for suffering from seasonal depression can be seen as a lack of serotonin, known as the happiness hormone.

Exercise

Is there a way to overcome seasonal depression? One thing that helps with depression is to exercise. It is good to move your body and exercise regularly, and simple indoor exercises like home training are also known to help relieve stress.

Reduce Carbohydrate Intake

When people get depressed, they tend to crave more carbohydrates. However, avoiding carbohydrates such as rice cakes, bread, and pizza is best. Eating excessive carbohydrates can cause rapid changes in blood sugar levels, which can intensify feelings of depression. Instead of carbohydrates, eating more green vegetables with folic acid, such as broccoli, spinach, and nuts, is recommended.

Sunbathe

The best way to overcome seasonal depression is to sunbathe. It is good to frequently expose yourself to sunlight by walking around during the day, even alone. When you have enough daylight, the amount of vitamin D involved in synthesizing the neurotransmitter serotonin in the body increases, and the overall mood can improve significantly. If it is impossible to go outside, another method is to brightly light the interior during the day to expose yourself to light artificially.

Keep in touch

To respond less sensitively to weather changes, consistently making phone calls to people around you or friends can also be helpful. Let’s maintain healthy emotions through communication. Also, if the depression caused by weather or seasonal changes exceeds the level that I can control, it is appropriate to seek professional help.

By. Oh Hye In