As the air starts to get warmer, life is slowly coming back to the world around us, signaling the arrival of spring. For most, this isn’t much of a change other than switching out their wardrobe and maybe using less heat. However, for some people, the changing of seasons is a change in their day-to-day life.
When the days get shorter and the air gets colder, it can tend to have a negative effect on one’s mental health. There’s even a diagnosis for a disorder that is caused by the change, Seasonal Affective Disorder, otherwise known as SAD. However, you don’t need to have SAD to experience these feelings. So this article is to help explain why one may feel this way and some ways how to make this transition through seasons smoother for yourself.
The lack of sunlight one gets in the Fall and Winter plays a key role in some of these effects. There are a lot of processes within our minds and bodies that are supported by the nutrients the sun gives us, so a lack of it can reduce chemicals like serotonin. Serotonin is a ‘feel-good’ chemical that contributes to regulating systems like our mood and sleep. So although we naturally make it, having one less source of it can have negative effects like having a more down mood or getting less sleep.
As the days get brighter and nicer, maybe try and take some more time to get outside in the sun to help that ‘feel-good’ chemical flow, especially if this winter has made you feel down. Sit outside for a couple of minutes in the sun, maybe take some of your homework out with you or just enjoy the nice weather. Warmer weather can be a great motivator to get people back outside. Not only will it help you with this transition, it may also help you feel a lot better to get some sun. It may help some of your systems get back in order and you could see an overall improvement to your day-to-day
life. Sometimes all you need is a little sun.
Sources:
https://www.wpshealth.com/blog/?p=how-seasonal-changes-affect-mental-health
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-sunlight-health-effects
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22572-serotonin
