“Winter depression” is another name for a common disorder called S.A.D. S.A.D stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. The winter variant is much more common than the summer variant. There are many causes for this to occur. These causes include a drop in serotonin levels, a person’s biological clock getting messed up, and a drop in melatonin levels.

The main factor is considered to be a drop in serotonin levels. Due to the sun being covered by clouds, a person may get less vitamin D. A drop in serotonin can lead to depression. The symptoms may include mood changes, feelings of depression or anxiety, and difficulty with functions such as sleep and memory, according to Medical News Today. Medical News Today is a site that informs people on global health and medical research. 

 Since there is less sunlight, the body can get night mixed up with what time of day it is. Since the sun is going down on average at around 7:39 and people are used to the sun setting much later, it can mess up a person's sleep schedules. Messing up a person's sleep schedules can lead to a person’s biological clock becoming off track. 

When someone messes up this biological clock the person may have trouble with work and school schedules. These are the minor effects. The major effects are other sleep issues or disorders, especially chronic insomnia according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The change in seasons can also mess with melatonin levels. When levels are too low it can result in anxiety and mood disorders, insomnia, etc. ,according to A.A.R.M. A.A.R.M is a non-profit medical association that focuses on endocrine system disorders. The endocrine system is the system that produces hormones to the body. There are many symptoms of S.A.D. One of the more common is feeling lethargic (lacking energy) and sleepy during the day, says the NHS. The NHS is the National Health Service and is the public healthcare system in England.

S.A.D is a very common disorder that you might not know that you have. Through the winter months something that can help bring levels up is a sun lamp. 

Feel the Winter Blues? You're Not Alone: The Surprising Truth About S.A.D.

Rebecca Kooiker