Winter blues are real! Less daylight, fewer social events actually makes people more depressed –

As the sunlight dwindles, social gatherings begin to wane, and the peak season draws to a close, Americans may experience depressive symptoms in the months ahead.

Experts tell DailyMail.com that the transition period from summer to fall and winter can be difficult for some, triggering a phenomenon that some describe as the winter blues. As the year progresses, sunlight will also become rarer and disrupt one’s circadian rhythm, making it a risk factor for developing depression.

School-age children are most at risk in early September. After a summer of unstructured play with friends and family with little responsibility, the sudden transition to a planned school day and having to complete homework can be shocking.

In most serious cases, this year-end sadness may be the result of a condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a surprisingly common condition that affects about one in 20 American adults. especially short.

Dr. With the coming of autumn, many summer activities that distract people from mental health problems are disappearing, said Amit Active (left), a professor at Stanford University. Dr. Gary Maslow (right) said the end of summer sadness a person may experience is likely linked to stressors due to transitions in daily life.

Dr. Many activities that can distract a person from depression or other problems in their life seem to have dried up in the fall, Amit Active, professor of psychiatry at Stanford University and founder and CEO of Alto Neuroscience, told DailyMail.com.

“In the summer, people can become more sociable, spend more time outside, travel more, take more vacations, which can help alleviate depression or distract them from their difficulties,” she explained.

“The passage of seasons linked not only to the environment that surrounds us but also to our activities can lead to a greater risk of depression.”

The summer months are often filled with being together for many. Weddings are more common in the summer, with holidays like the 4th of July and Memorial Day, along with large family gatherings for events like barbecues.

In 2019, a Chinet survey found that the average American is 31% more social in the summer than in the winter—going to multiple meetings with more people—and half the population schedules some type of summer event each year.

Dr. Gary Maslow, an associate professor of psychiatry at Duke University, said the key behind these sudden emotional changes is understanding how the body dies during menopause.

All transitional periods in one’s life are relatively stressful. Stress is a major cause of depressive symptoms and is often both a cause and a symptom of the condition itself.

Experts attribute the mood swing associated with the colder months to the fact that a lack of sunlight affects a person’s circadian rhythms and, as a result, harms their body cycles.

“It’s scary for people. Taking these new routines, you know, change, you know, change timelines… transitions are stressful for people,” he explained.

This is especially true for young children. Going back to school and suddenly taking on the responsibility attributed to them can be difficult for them to cope with at first.

Maslow states that after a relatively quiet summer, the number of emergency room visits due to mental health problems in children is known to increase in the autumn months.

However, college-age students, often in their twenties, can suffer from menopause.

Students will often have to relocate to go to school and leave their family and friends behind to move to a new environment.

It can be a distressing and stressful experience, even for a fourth-time student.

“If you think of a student who has a relatively limited structure during the summer months, back to school, class structure, exam requirement, tempo has increased considerably,” says Aktif.

‘I’m in a very different social environment.’

As the year progresses and autumn turns into winter, many will begin to experience SAD.

The Cleveland Clinic reports that about 5% of people will experience clinical SAD, and about 10-20% of American adults will experience some form of winter blues.

It is more common in women, young people, and those who already have a mood disorder.

Maslow also notes that it’s more common in parts of the world like Alaska, where winter days can pass, where the state leaves us in the dark for 24 hours.

Active explains that the reason people feel sadder when it’s dark outside is related to the body’s circadian rhythm.

The circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle in which a person’s body’s natural processes work.

Although many associate it only with sleep, its effect on the body is much more profound.

“The light in our environment affects our circadian rhythm,” Effective explains.

“Your body responds to circadian rhythms at all levels, in and out of the brain. Even at the level of single-celled genes whose activity is activated and deactivated according to a circadian pattern.

“There’s a strong multi-level involvement in your body, and as the times in the world around you change with the amount of light and when things get dark.”

He says some people may be more sensitive to changes in circadian rhythms than others, and these people are more likely to experience SAD during the colder months when there is less sunlight.

“There is a segment where you know that really altered circadian rhythms are either slowing down, slowing down the rhythm, or going too far,” he continued.

‘This changes their sleep, which in turn changes their mood, sleep and mood, which in turn affects cognition. So you see all the pieces that come into play.’

While there is no definitive cure for upset or other summer ailments, people can take steps to manage and lessen the effect.

For children, parents should notice sudden changes in behavior. If a child seems cranky or withdrawn for a long time at the start of the school year, a parent may seek medical attention.

For adults who are prone to blue later in the fall and winter, investing in a SAD lamp, a device that can mimic sunlight indoors, can help regulate circadian rhythm and alleviate issues.

However, a person suffering from severe SAD should see a doctor.