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With thanks to our member Dafiny Alves for this article.
I was about seventeen the first time I heard of “winter depression”. My father was driving me to school, and the man on the radio was talking about how much the winter season could affect people’s mental health. He said it was more common in European countries where winter is more severe. I was in Brazil back then and had no idea I would live in one of those countries one day.
Winter depression is the nickname of Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) probably because the symptoms are more apparent and more severe during winter. However, some people with SAD may have symptoms in the summer and feel better during the winter.
Symptoms of SAD can include:
For some people, these symptoms can be severe and significantly impact their day-to-day activities; for others, the weather change can become a stressor and something to look out for. I find myself in the latter. It is a struggle to get out of bed during winter as my body does not seem to get my circadian rhythm right. I often joke with friends that I feel like a chicken. As long there’s sunlight, I am up! The problem and stressor here is how to stay awake and productive when it gets dark outside around four o'clock and stay positive when the lack of sunlight and longer days affect my mood. On top of that, as a therapist, I often finish work around 8 pm, sometimes later than that, to accommodate clients that work from 9-to-5, so literally, I am still working when the day finishes, which gives me that sense of nonfulfillment. If this becomes a day-to-day feeling together with tiredness and sleepiness, it will undoubtedly affect one’s mental health.
The healthwatch.co.uk suggested that one in twenty people in the UK are diagnosed with Seasonal affective disorder, with men being more likely to get diagnosed than women. I also found at microbizmag.co.uk some statistics about SAD, which suggested that: “People in London are significantly likelier than those anywhere else in the UK to have been diagnosed with SAD (over 11% of people in London).”
I think those numbers may be impacted because of how we live in London, the rush and the fast pace. I went on a short holiday at the end of October and returned just after the summertime ended; I remember landing in Stansted around 2 pm. It was daytime, a bit cloudy, but I could see the sun. On my journey home from Stansted until White City (as this is when the metro comes out of the tunnel). I realised it was already dark before I had the time to get home. If I am honest, I felt that disappointment stabbing my heart for a moment, the realisation that I didn’t have enough time to enjoy the daytime due to my commuting. It is winter!
As I mentioned, you probably will agree that it is easy to feel disheartened when the days are shorter, and you spend most of them working, not getting sunshine, and feeling tired all the time. This can become a cause of frustration and irritation, and if it persists, it can affect your mental health. Some people may not know what they are feeling is normal, and you can get help to deal with it.
How I dodge the winter blues
I want to share some ideas about how I cope with winter here and also to remind you that If you are thinking you struggle with SAD after reading this, don’t feel embarrassed. Do speak with your health professional. It took me years to link what I heard on the radio years ago with what I felt during winter after moving to the UK.
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