By: Allexea Desuyo
When Sept. hits and the leaves start to fall, summer smiles begin to slowly turn into gloomy frowns. The feeling of autumn always brings me bittersweet memories. The air changes as fast as the temperature, and the once beautiful bright sky slowly becomes duller and darker. But why do we become engulfed by these feelings of sadness?
As schools reopen and the demands for work increase, we see that people change as fast as the color of the leaves. Many I interact with seem to have lower energy and no one seems to be as cheerful as they were in the summer days. I can even attest to this phenomenon: I also experience these feelings once the cold weather hits.
What is the scientific reasoning behind this change? This change in mood is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and it is a type of depression that comes and goes with the seasons. It usually begins in late fall and continues into winter, and the spring and summer are when these symptoms minimize/go away. There might be years where there is no depression at all or symptoms are mild.
What are some symptoms you might experience? Some include feelings of sadness, lack of energy, loss of interest in usual activities, oversleeping and weight gain. If you feel these symptoms, it’s better to seek professional help instead of trying to diagnose yourself. It could be something completely unrelated to SAD, so it’s best to make sure you get the right diagnosis.
What are some causes of SAD? One main cause is the lack of sunlight we get this time of the year. Since it’s colder outside, we tend to spend more time indoors and less outdoors. It causes a shift in your biological clock and adjusts you to a new schedule that aligns with the daylight. The lack of sunlight can also cause lower serotonin levels, which can put you more at risk for depression.
How can we prevent these feelings from happening? Michael Terman, Ph.D., a professor of clinical psychology in psychiatry at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, recommends that people who suffer from the disorder know the effective treatments for the disorder. These feelings shouldn’t just be pushed aside, we should allow ourselves to feel them and acknowledge what they are/what they are caused from.
How can we treat SAD? A recommended treatment method is light therapy, which is a lightbox that supplies a therapeutic dose of light. Another recommended treatment method is talk therapy. Therapy allows you to air out different feelings and talk through them instead of bottling them in. Lastly, there are some medication options if you decide to take that route. However, there are many pros and cons that come along with them. Before considering them, make sure there are other treatment options you try first.
Even though SAD is one of the main causes of fall melancholia, there is also the case of Autumn Anxiety, which is caused by the increase in anxiety during autumn due to changes such as the beginning of school, holiday season stress and the end of summer. Most of the recommended treatment methods are similar to those of SAD, such as increased sunlight and therapy. However, you can also exercise more frequently, change your diet and reframe your mind. Instead of looking at the negative experiences associated with the season, try to add things you might look forward to and build new, positive experiences.
Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year; there is always so much to do and look forward to, so try to enjoy it as much as you can! Even the nature of the season is the best to experience, so spend lots of time doing things outdoors and bask in as much sun as possible.