Hey, Lovelies, I’m so glad you landed here! We’re finally in the throes of fall and wrapping up Spooky Season, next up is Mariah Carey season! Like many of you, I was desperately anticipating Beyoncé dropping the visuals for Renaissance before I start playing Christmas music and movies on November 1st, but my good sis has other plans (get ya ticket money ready). If you’re like me and didn’t get to have a #HotGirl summer but are down for a #ReclusiveGirl fall, then we have to talk about seasonal depression. So, let’s get into it!
Did You Know?
- About 5% of the U.S. population experience seasonal depression.
- 4 out of 5 people who have seasonal depression are women.
- Although most people experience seasonal depression in the fall or winter, some can experience it in the summer.
RELATED: What Is Seasonal Depression?
What Happens When the Sun Doesn’t Shine
Many of us have heard of the “winter blues” or may have noticed that our moods, energy, and sleep patterns drastically change in the fall and winter. This, my dear, is seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Seasonal depression is a subtype of depression that is related to seasonal changes and begins and ends around the same time each year, typically in fall and winter.
The cause of seasonal depression is still unknown, but it is linked to less sunlight in the fall and winter months, which regulates serotonin levels- a neurotransmitter that affects mood.
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If you have a vitamin D deficiency, it can exacerbate this issue as vitamin D encourages serotonin production and release. So, see Love, you’re not crazy or just sad for no reason.
When the days are shorter and darker, the body produces more melatonin resulting in disrupted sleep/wake rhythms. So basically, bears aren’t the only creatures who hibernate in the winter, lol.
Some of us are more at risk for SAD than others, especially if you have another mood disorder, have a family history of SAD or
