Why We Feel Gloomy in The Winter?  

We feel gloomy in colder seasons than the sunny days. Have you noticed it? 

What is the first thing everyone wants to do in the morning? Yes. You are waking up to going to school or workplaces. All of us love to crave a lazy day in bed whenever we get time. But your mornings can sometimes feel torturous, especially when you get up in the winter mornings. You notice a drained and negative mood swing, and you are new to yourself! 

So, what is the cause of this gloomy feeling? SAD is the reason behind this. It stands for Seasonal affective disorder. This disorder can trigger up sad feelings in you. The colder season activates this type of depression. The days are shorter, and the sunlight is less. This type of weather always holds your mood back, right?

SAD is a common problem. All ranges of people from the adult, teens to children face the impacts of this disorder. Scientists believe that around 6 percent of the total population are having the adverse effects of this depression. Surprisingly, the number is higher in the northern areas — for example, the number six times higher in New Hampshire than that of in Florida.  

Already thinking of "Am I affected with SAD or not?" Well, you must know what the causes are. Let's find out.

How the Weather Impacts Your Brain

Suppose, you have experienced a week-long rainfall and the next day, the sun pops up. You feel happy to see the sunlight. Also, thank God for removing the darkness from the sky and your mind as well. It shows that our mood is dependant on our surroundings. For many reasons, the weather affects our brains. Because it is painful to spend all the time at home while it is pouring outside. But the most important cause of all is the sunlight. The sunlight can bring about chemical changes in our brains.

The sunlight produces serotonin in our brains. Serotonin is a kind of feel-good hormone that boosts our mood naturally. Besides feeling happier than before, serotonin makes you more focused and alert. So, you have a good day with better performance. 

But in the winter days, most probably in the dead of winter, you do not get enough sunlight. As you consume less sunlight, your brain produces less serotonin. It means you do not have enough feel-good hormones. So, you are bound to feel gloomy. Besides feeling sad, you will also start to feel tired and unfocused. All these happen because of the lack of serotonin.  

What are the Signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder?

You may have already experienced some of the signs of SAD. First of all, you may feel less favorable than usual. Another sign is that you often feel sad without any reason. Your body wants more sleep time than usual, and you may feel tired although you had a good night's sleep.   

Apart from these signs, there are other signs too. Steadily, you are not finding interest in your favorite activities anymore. For example, you do not like extracurriculars or spending time with your friends. There is also a significant change in your appetite. You feel hungrier than before. It means you are going to add your weight. At the same time, you might lose your appetite and start to eat less than usual. 

If the cases become more severe, SAD may take people's life! Sometimes they think of harming themselves or even commit suicide. But they never thought of doing this earlier in their lifetime. 

Here's What to Do If That Sounds Like You?

Though SAD sounds so severe, it is treatable if initiatives taken in due time. You can share the problems that occur from SAD to your parents or another trusted adult. Avoid sitting heart-to-heart if you do not want to. You let your parents know so that they can book an appointment with your family doctor. Then you can discuss the issue with your trusted family doctor. 

Now, it is your doctor's responsibility to find out other causes. A medical report says that many health conditions can cause SAD-like symptoms. After finding out the reasons, the physician will instruct you to take the best course of action. The treatment is straightforward. It includes light therapy to generate serotonin artificially. Simple medication and talk therapy are also parts of this treatment.    

Other options are available if you do not want to chat about your life problems with adults around you. You can approach to get help anonymously. Teen Line and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Service's National Hotline are working to ensure better treatment for the teenage. You do not need to expose your name and personal information. They keep helping you to overcome all the problems step by step.