No lights, maybe a camera for matching pajama family Christmas card photos, but no action.
For me, wintertime just feels like a big countdown to Christmas, and once that's done, what's left to look forward to? New Year's is okay I guess.
After the quick hit of dopamine that comes on December 25th, many return to a gloomy mindset, strictly contrasting the once-festive atmosphere.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression triggered by the changes in seasons and most commonly begins in late fall when sunlight becomes a scarce commodity. About 5% of adults in the U.S. experience SAD, with women experiencing it more than men for undiscovered reasons. It may be the hormonal fluctuations that women undergo during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause that play a role.
Some symptoms include SADness, anxiety, trouble concentrating, hopelessness, sleeping problems, etc.
Yet, within the chill of this emotional winter, there's a glimmer of understanding. Researchers suspect that the reduced exposure to sunlight disrupts the body's internal harmony––the biological clock, playing havoc with hormones and neurotransmitters. It's as if the very rhythm of our lives is thrown into disarray, and we find ourselves dancing to an unknown tune.
That's why one possible solution to SAD is light therapy––literal bursts of light that your face embraces and bring back the rhythm of our internal timekeepers. It's thought that the light would encourage your brain to reduce the production of melatonin and increase serotonin, consequentially making you more positive. If that's not enough, there's psychotherapy, medications that chemically change you, and lifestyle differences that can make the difference (spending more time outdoors).
There are actually instances of SAD during the summer, ironically. Perhaps it's the lack of routine that now exists that upsets people. Parents, who have kids in college, now find boxes and boxes of "stuff" back in the house after months of absence. Perhaps it's the overwhelming sunlight that oppresses a person that makes them SAD. They may spend every weekend in their air-conditioned room, watching movies until their eyes bleed.
Maybe we shouldn't always bring light into our lives.
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