If Your SAD Symptoms Aren’t Shifting, Get Distracted byTanyel Mustafa
This winter has felt that much worse than ever before. Whether or not it’s true, it seems greyer, colder and the sun is currently only gracing the UK with a brief weekly appearance. I’m not the only one who feels this way — it’s the chat in the office and people are complaining all over my social feed. Although, every late February feels like a drag. Spring can’t come soon enough. Personally, I just need it to be a few degrees warmer so everything feels better — but until then I’ll distract myself.
One in 20 people in the UK get SAD (seasonal affective disorder), and in the US it’s about 5% of the population with more women than men being susceptible to it. SAD happens during the winter due to reduced daylight, which affects serotonin levels. Even if your feelings aren’t quite bad enough to be considered a form of depression, the winter blues are likely still in full force. It’s never pleasant to wake up in the dark, go to work, then return home in the dark. On top of this, the news cycle is draining. It might seem a little entitled to feel bad because it’s dark and cold, we’re still allowed to be mentally affected by the environment and feel horror at what’s going on outside of us.
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