Feeling SAD: The lack of sunlight during winter months leads to symptoms of seasonal depression for many people

When the sun’s out, I’m happier. It’s as simple as that. Or so I thought…

After weeks of sadness without a single sunny day, last week brought a miracle. The sun finally emerged from the clouds it had been hiding behind and it hasn’t failed me yet. Each day the sun is out, my mood is positive. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder manifests for most as a depression that typically begins in November and lasts through early March, according to Mayo Clinic. It directly correlates with the lack of sunlight present in the winter, leading to a drop in serotonin levels in the body. Though I’m not diagnosed, I’ve experienced symptoms associated with it like low energy levels and repeatedly oversleeping. 

The holiday season generally raises my spirits through the end of December, but I can always seem to count on waking up in a daze on Jan. 1, desperately grasping at something to look forward to. Something to break the monotony of dark, cold days spent inside a classroom.

I often find myself opting to stay inside for days at a time rather than braving icy roads and the rusty snow shovel hung up in my garage. I justify staying inside by telling myself that snow days are all about staying cozy and warm — when in reality the isolation only adds to my dreary mood.

When a sunny day interrupts my lazy routine, the shift in my motivation level is seemingly instantaneous. All of a sudden I’m waking up early, spending hours outside taking walks or voluntarily helping my parents out with yard work. 

It’s the little, almost subconscious things too. When winter time comes, I usually gravitate towards slower, depressing music, while anytime the sun is shining I roll down all my windows, turn up the stereo volume and shuffle my ten-hour-long upbeat summer playlist. But why should I limit listening to happy music to only one season? 

Around 5 percent of adults in the U.S. experience a form of seasonal depression, according to the American Psychiatric Association. However, many cases go undiagnosed, or like myself, feel milder negative effects of seasonal changes without any kind of diagnosis.

Right now, I’ve been soaking up the sunny days and ditching my puffy winter coat at every opportunity I get. But, all the while I’m strategizing a game plan to try and make the most of the next classically Midwest gray day we get. 

I don’t want to have to quit taking the walks I rely on to clear my mind cold turkey. Instead, I want to try my luck by bundling up for a shorter paved trail and dusting off my barely-worn snow boots. Rather than lounging around in my fuzzy pajamas until past noon each snow day we get, I want to view the day off as an opportunity to be productive. 

From now on, I’m not going to let the weather outside have complete control over my mood and outlook. I’ll listen to happy music when I want to—especially when there’s no sun in the sky.