In the cold, when skies are metal gray and solid walls of clouds separate us from the sun, we become subtly sad, melancholy and depressed, which makes us listless and tired, ready to stay in bed and sleep until the sunlight of spring wakes us.
With winter upon us, many of us are feeling cranky and cold in more than temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a pattern of symptoms or syndrome characterized by depression during winter months when there are shorter days and too little sunlight, causing our body’s circadian rhythms (time clock) to lose synchronization with our body’s operational routine.
The symptoms of SAD besides the fatigue and depression mentioned previously are loss of appetite or increased cravings for sweets, candies and carbohydrates, as well as decreased activity promoting increase in weight.
Studies concentrating on daily weather rather than seasonal climate have drawn conclusions that length of daylight, amount of sunlight and temperature have little effect on our moods.
But we are more sensitive to climate than to weather.
One conclusion for climate-caused depression is that the small effect daily weather has on our moods is cumulative, building until it becomes a prime emotional state. Dark gray days promote the secretion of melatonin (root: black tonic) that establishes sleep cycles; sunlight makes Vitamin D in the body which promotes wakefulness and lifts mood by boosting levels of serotonin (root: serum tonic).
Other studies have shown a connection between pleasant spring weather and a more positive mood. They conclude that the lengthening days bring our body’s operational routine back to our ‘normal’ settings.
So, what is a good way to lift that gray-sky melancholy? Simple. Get some sun.
Whenever the sun actually breaks through the winter clouds and shines brightly, get outside and let the sun hit your skin for a while. It doesn’t have to be long if it is cold, but you will be surprised at how your mood lifts.
An alternative to natural sunlight, if the sun doesn’t break through, is an artificial sunlight lamp. And for those of us wealthy enough, a midwinter vacation in a sunny location will boost your outlook. If you can’t escape to a sunny isle, do activities that make you feel good.
We often consider ourselves ‘evolved’ beings, no longer connected to our cave-dwelling ancestors. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our ancestors developed a highly tuned body that survived all the disasters that befell them. They owned the perfected body, which is why they survived to have descendants.
Our ancestors did not venture out into the cold to freeze, but depression evolved to create a strong craving for getting out into the sunlight of spring. They stockpiled food and firewood and spent their days protected from the elements, and sleeping to pass the time. Those evolved urgings live in us today.
Don’t be a cold crank. Change your outlook. Warm up in the sunlight.
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