This week’s snow has been responsible for wrecks on icy roads, falls on slippery sidewalks and widespread school and business closures. But can the cold and snow be blamed for a case of the winter blues?
Perhaps. It certainly hasn’t helped those residents who have been cooped up in their homes, staying warm and dry, but also out of the sun and in a near-vegetative state since the snow began falling Sunday. Feelings of sadness, lack of energy and hopelessness may have crept up on some as the seemingly endless winter weather drags on outside their doors.
Those symptoms could be the first signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, a cyclical condition that comes back and goes away the same time each year, according to the Mayo Clinic.
“The seasons can affect anybody’s mood, and in the winter, you’re not getting outside as much as you normally would. You’re not getting out in the sunlight, being physically active or as social with people as you would during warmer months,” said Bonnie Matlock, a licensed professional counselor with Alabama Psychological Services Center in Huntsville.
The only way many people know how to combat the snow, ice and bitterly cold temperatures (the mercury registered in single digits in Decatur at sunrise Friday morning) is by staying indoors, isolating them from not only the elements, but also personal interaction and fresh air.
“This last week, schools have been closed. People are staying off the roads and staying inside, keeping to themselves,” she said. “They’ve probably been lying around and sleeping more, too.”
Sunshine can play a significant role in keeping a person’s circadian rhythms functioning properly, she said. Circadian rhythms control when you feel sleepy or alert throughout the day, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The combination of reduced sunlight exposure, physical activity and socialization can reek havoc on a person’s psyche, Matlock said.
“Days are shorter during the winter, which means people are not getting enough vitamin D,” Matlock said. “A vitamin D deficiency can contribute to depression.”
Mark Jacobs, a master-level therapist and licensed clinical social worker, said some patients he regularly sees at his Decatur office for other forms of depression often experience Seasonal Affective Disorder as well.
“It can affect anyone,” he said. “The holidays can be especially tough because people have this Norman Rockwell view of how things should be, and in reality, it’s not like that.”
Women, people living far from the equator and people with a family history of depression are more likely to experience SAD symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic.
But there is hope for those feeling blue. Simple changes can help ease symptoms of SAD. Get moving indoors, whether it be playing a Nintendo Wii game or dancing along to an aerobic video, said Matlock.
“If you don’t want to get bundled up and go outside in the cold, try sitting in a warm spot in front of a window where the sun comes in,” she said.
Calling and e-mailing friends and family can also help re-establish a connection to the outside world during the winter. Jacobs said people who are closed up inside for a long period of time often focus on negative thoughts and fixate on them.
“People need to get out and talk to people so they can have their ideas and thought challenged,” he said. “That interaction may make you think, ‘Well, it’s not as bad as I think it is.’ ”
If meteorologists’ forecasts are correct, the snow that has long overstayed its welcome should be gone by today, as temperatures reach into the low 40s, freeing residents from their self-imposed, indoor exile.
Feeling SAD?
The onset of symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder include:
- Depression.
- Hopelessness.
- Anxiety.
- Loss of energy.
- Social withdrawal.
- Oversleeping.
- Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
- Appetite changes, especially a craving for food high in carbohydrates.
- Weight gain.
- Difficulty concentrating and processing information.
Causes of winter blues
While medical experts still debate the specific causes of seasonal affective disorder, they can agree on three possible reasons for the illness:
Circadian rhythms: Also known as your biological clock, circadian rhythms make you feel sleepy or alert throughout the day. they can be disturbed when you receive less sunlight during the fall and winter months.
Melatonin levels: This natural hormone plays a role in sleep patterns and moods, and it too can become disrupted by the change in seasons.
Serotonin levels: Less sunlight may also cause a drop in this brain chemical, which acts as a neurotransmitter, and lead to depressed feelings.