Seasonal Depression: Can the Seasons Really Affect Our Mental Health?

Winter is knocking on our door and with it, the days are shorter, colder, grayer and cloudier. All of this becomes an obstacle to getting up and fulfilling our daily obligations.

During periods of seasonal change, it is normal to feel more discouraged. However, studies show that the cold and lack of light have the ability to deteriorate our mental health.

This feeling of apathy can be a disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or as it is popularly known, seasonal depression. This disorder is directly linked to the lack of sunlight, which affects the chemical balance of the brain.

As a result, people become moody, feel discouraged and have low energy, and may lose interest in activities that usually bring them pleasure in their daily lives.

In addition, people also tend to eat and sleep more than usual. Those who feel the effects of seasonal depression more severely may even become socially isolated. Check out what psychologists have to say about this disorder below.

Yes, winter affects your mental health

Seasonal Affective Disorder was described in the 1980s by psychiatrist Norman E. Rosenthal and is officially recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

According to a study published in the Journal of the Spanish Association of Neuropsychiatrythe disorder affects 1% to 10% of the world’s population and is linked to decreased sunlight, as previously mentioned. Paola Mallea, a psychologist at Clínica Las Condes, states that:

“These light changes that occur in early autumn-spring vary by about 30%.

Therefore, people are forced to change their sleep patterns and, although it is not the only trigger, it has an important effect on the assimilation of vitamin D and neurotransmitters.”

When natural light is reduced, the production of serotonin, responsible for regulating mood, and melatonin, responsible for maintaining the normal sleep-wake cycle, increases. In other words, the body’s rhythm is altered, generating changes in sleep, mood and behavior.

In this sense, Paula Errázuriz, professor at the Faculty of Psychology at UC, researcher at MIDAP and co-founder of the PsiConecta Foundation, states that:

“This (changes in sleep, mood and behavior) in itself is a mental health condition that requires attention. It’s not that the person lacks willpower, but that there is a problem that needs to be addressed.”

Finally, Professor Paula Errázuriz recommends that people suffering from seasonal depression undergo psychotherapy sessions accompanied by pharmacotherapy, in addition to:

“Get more sunlight in the morning, exercise outdoors, monitor your sleep patterns and eat healthily.”