We all have those days when we feel more down than usual, but how do you know if you're just having a bad day OR suffering from something more serious, like winter depression? More people start to get depressed during the winter months than you may realize and, though the symptoms differ from person to person, there are a few warning signs to look out for.
Winter Depression Is Real
We ALL talk about having the "winter blues", yet most of us brush it off as something that's not "real". But getting depressed in the winter is real, and it's a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (shortened to SAD). The truth is that the LEVELS of daylight we get affect our natural rhythms. In winter, they can go out of sync, causing a number of symptoms.
So What Are The Symptoms?
The symptoms of winter depression are EXTREMELY varied, and EVERYONE will experience it differently. A few of the symptoms you may have include:
- Irritability
- Feeling worthless, guilty, or having low self esteem
- Crying a lot
- Feeling anxious and stressed
- Reduced sex drive
- Feeling more tired than usual and sleeping more
- Weight gain
- Lack of energy
- Increased appetite
- Craving unhealthy food
Another STRONG symptom, in addition to those above (most of which are also symptoms of depression in general) is finding that you get these symptoms at the same time each year. This is a clear sign that your depression is related to the winter season. The symptoms may slowly begin during autumn, and get worse into winter when the daylight hours decrease.
What Causes Winter Depression?
It can also help to be aware of the various causes of seasonal depression, to help determine whether you're at risk. There is no one cause, but there are known factors that contribute to the likelihood of developing it.
The levels of sunlight you get each DAY affect certain hormones in the brain. Some theories state that sunlight affects the hormones responsible for mood, sleep and appetite. This is why you may get some of the symptoms above when sunlight levels decrease.
Melatonin: Another factor related to light levels is the amount of melatonin our bodies produce. This is the hormone responsible for sleep, and more of it is produced when it's dark, causing us to feel sleepy.
Serotonin: When you get less sunlight, your body produces less serotonin. Serotonin affects your mood, sleep and appetite - people who are depressed tend to have less of this hormone.
Circadian Rhythm: This is responsible for our "internal clock" that lets us know when we need to sleep and wake up each day. This can get disrupted when the levels of sunlight we get every day change.
As you can see, winter depression is a very real condition that can affect many different areas of your LIFE. You really aren't alone if you experience this kind of depression, and your doctor will be able to point out various treatment options.
I can vouch that this is very real. Every year I tell myself I'm going to get one of those specialty lamps that are supposed to help alleviate SAD, but they're so expensive that I never quite give myself permission. And the length of day here in Maine at this time of year is only 9 hours or so. It's hard.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. I think some people have such a hard time reaching out when they think they may have depression.
ReplyDeleteI can totally see how this is an issue for people, especially those in the northwest where it's cold and gloomy.
ReplyDeleteThis was very informative. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNo depression here aside from hating my apartment - we have no natural light and the area just stinks..when we move again for hubby's work I hope it's a better area :)
ReplyDeleteI make sure to take my vitamin D this time of year. It gets dark so early, It's easy to get into a funk.
ReplyDeleteAck, winter depression.
ReplyDeleteI dealt with this when I moved to Oregon. I make sure that I'm getting enough vitamin D, Magnesium and Omega 3s. This is in addition to eating healthy!
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to differentiate Winter depression from regular depression because it has different components, including the light factor. Thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of winter depression before, but it makes sense. I see how it can happen.
ReplyDeleteI loathe winter, because I hate being confined to the house. I don't really get depressed, but I do have bad panic attacks because of the confinement.
ReplyDeleteI used to get this every year, but luckily it hasn't come back in a long time. It's hard trying to explain to people what it is so I'm glad you're putting this info out there!
ReplyDeleteI definitely feel different in the winter than other times of year – the cold weather and darker days seem to sap all my energy. Something I need to keep an eye on!
ReplyDeleteI really believe this for sure. Being so cold and dreary it can bring my mood down for sure!
ReplyDeleteI am really lucky that I live in Florida, because I KNOW that I would suffer from depression if I lived in a climate that had snow and dreary winter weather!
ReplyDeleteI always said I had SAD- seasonal affect disorder. I notice that after the holidays, when it gets really cold in NYC, I get grumpy. Through the years I've learned to manage it by keeping active and going out for a bit - even if it's 30 degrees out!
ReplyDeleteone of the very few things I love about living in Colorado is that we get 300+ days of sunshine a year, so it's very hard to have seasonal depression in the winter here.
ReplyDeleteSunshine is such an important part of staying healthy, thankfully here in FL we don't really have a winter and it truly is sunny year round.
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely a victim of this!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that depression could be seasonal, but it totally makes sense. Good to know what the warning signs are!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. If I'm ever feeling the winter blues at least I'll know the signs.
ReplyDeleteI need my sunshine so it's a good thing I live in the Sunshine state!
ReplyDeleteI hate the gloomy days in winter. I actually moved from Colorado where Katie talks about them having 300+ days of sunshine a year. It's pretty great to have all the sunshine, but the cold and having to be inside brings me down too.
ReplyDeleteI definitely get a little down during the dreary, dim days. I can imagine it would be harder for others. This is great info!
ReplyDeleteWe always get "the winter blues" every year.
ReplyDeleteI think it is definitely important to keep this in mind. So many people are affected by depression and don't even know it's happening.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of the "winter blues" but didn't realize how serious the problem can be!
ReplyDeleteit is very easy to get depressed in the cold months. I try to keep myself busy with things I love so I don't risk it. Baking, time with friends, etc
ReplyDeleteGah, depression just sucks! I hate that anyone has to deal with it.
ReplyDeletedepression is so hard, but when the sun is shining and the world is bright it seems easier to deal. Once winter hits and everything is so dark, it makes it hard to not get dark too.
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