In some cases, seasons and seasonal transitions affect people's psychological state, energy level, sleep quality and duration, changes in appetite (increase or decrease in appetite) and social life. One of these conditions is called seasonal depression.
Individuals experiencing seasonal depression may start eating different and larger amounts of food than they normally eat as the weather gets colder. Since their metabolism cannot keep up with this change very quickly, they may experience a decrease in energy and sleepiness.
In addition to sleepiness, other problems may sometimes be observed, such as being socially withdrawn and less active, feeling somatic pain, experiencing anxiety, and having difficulty focusing.
Individuals experiencing seasonal depression mostly experience these problems when autumn ends and winter begins. There are clues in society that people feel worse as we enter winter. However, frequent encounters sometimes normalize such disorders. For this reason, seasonal depression should not be confused with short-term and variable states such as low mood, reluctance, and boredom, and should be remembered that it is a type of depression. In addition, in contrast to individuals who are negatively affected by the arrival of winter, a small portion is, on the contrary, affected by seasonal depression.
Causes of Seasonal Depression
Sunlight is a natural factor that helps people experience feelings such as happiness, energy and belonging. Therefore, sunlight, which cannot be used in sufficient quantity and intensity during the winter months, can sometimes make its absence felt with seasonal depression. For example, individuals living in regions where it is generally rainy and receives little sunlight, such as London, may experience emotional problems because they cannot benefit from sunlight to the ideal extent. For this reason, 'light therapy' applications can be performed in rooms filled with white fluorescent light, which is the closest option to sunlight.
While everyone experiences the same season, why not everyone experiences the same trouble is an issue that needs to be discussed... Individuals with high psychological resilience are less likely to suffer from psychopathological problems such as seasonal depression. It is known to be less affected. In addition, individual factors such as differences in temperament, the situation people are in at that moment, and the stage of their lives they are in can also determine whether people will experience seasonal depression.
So what can individuals suffering from seasonal depression do?
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First of all, taking advantage of daylight would be a good solution. To achieve this, it is necessary to first regulate your sleeping hours and stay awake when the sun is shining and sleeping when the sun sets.
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Therefore, it would not be a good idea to wake up at noon or sleep in the morning.
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Considering that the best quality sleep will be achieved in the dark, the best option would be to remove devices that distract and disrupt the darkness, such as phones and computers, from the bedroom.
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Hobbies that add joy and enthusiasm to life are effective supports in terms of giving meaning to life.
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2-3 times a week, enough to sweat. It is known that walking (approximately 30-40 minutes) has positive effects on psychological well-being. The secreted hormones and neurotransmitters will help overcome seasonal depression.
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Social support is also a supportive feature of treatment for seasonal depression. Therefore, it will be good for you to call, meet and talk to your friends, family or acquaintances to get support.
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Meditation and breathing exercises are also important for psychological well-being. Breathing exercises that allow you to experience instant calmness will strengthen your abilities such as focusing, problem solving, and making plans in the long term.
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Facing all the problems will increase the distress and reinforce the feeling of helplessness. Therefore, a good strategy would be to divide your problems into small parts, sort them and then decide whether they can be solved or not.
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