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The Science Behind Seasonal Depression
A look at history and causes of the “winter blues”.
For me, fall is my favorite time of the year.
The frantic randomness of spring and the empty void of summer are behind us, with the cooling weather settling us all into this groove of productivity and relaxation. As the school year phases in, I’m able to get into the zone and work on projects that were previously only thoughts.
The colder weather outside also means I get to stay inside, snuggled with a blanket, a cup of hot chocolate and a horror classic to honor the approaching Halloween.
For some, however, fall doesn’t mean relaxation and productivity, it means losing motivation and even experiencing depressive symptoms.
This is thanks to seasonal depression, known officially as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. SAD is a mental disorder where certain people experience depressive symptoms during certain parts of the year.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are half a million cases of SAD in the United States every year, and millions more around the globe. The condition usually begins during the onset of fall, worsening as fall progresses into winter, and then it begins to alleviate during spring.
