As the nights draw in at this time of year, many people can start to feel more tired than usual and there seems to be a natural instinct to slow down. However, some people experience extreme low mood at this time of year. They experience a severe lack of energy, lose interest in things, and often feel worthless. This is more common than you might realise, and it is recognised as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Whilst causes SAD is not fully understood. It is thought to be linked to the shorter days, and therefore reduced sunlight, at this time of year. The theory is that lack of sunlight increases your production of melatonin, which makes you feel sleepy; lowers your serotonin levels, which can make you feel depressed; and disrupts your body clock. Suffering from SAD also appears to run in families.
It can be really difficult to deal with these feelings, as they appear to come from nowhere. Your low mood and lack of energy can be made worse by feelings of guilt about feeling this way when nothing appears to have triggered it. The first thing to realise is that there is nothing to feel guilty about. Something has triggered this, lack of sunlight. The second thing to note is that there are ways to address SAD.
Get as much natural sunlight as possible. Go for walks at lunchtime, sit by a window. Get outdoors during daylight hours as much as you can.
Exercise. Any amount of exercise is good for boosting your mood. Even just going for a short walk is enough, but something that gets you sweating is even better.
Light therapy. A light box is a special lamp that mimics natural sunlight which you sit in front of for a specified time every day.
Talk with a counsellor. Making sense of your feelings can help you deal with them better.