How Seasonal Changes Affect Mental Health

Freddy Murphy

Beyond The Blues

As seasons change during the year, some see changes not just in their surroundings, but also in their mood, energy, and mental well-being. It's no coincidence that there's a correlation between changing seasons and mental well-being—the issue's a researched reality that afflicts people throughout the Earth. As some feel more alive and have more energy when they have warmer months, some see their mood sharply fall when they have darker, colder months. It's becoming attuned to those patterns that better prepare us to contend and maintain mental well-being throughout the year.

One of the most commonplace conditions associated with changes of season is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a depression that occurs most often in winter and fall when daylight hours are shortest. Lower sunshine exposure has effects on circadian rhythms, lower levels of serotonin, and lower production of melatonin, all of which have detrimental effects upon one's mood and upon sleep. Drowsiness, withdrawal, and despair are symptoms suffered by those who have SAD, and they lose interest in things they once delighted in. More frequent in cold places, everyone experiences seasonal mood changes.

Even beyond clinical symptomatology, such as SAD, there are literally millions of people who have perceptible but mild mental changes that are aligned with transitional seasons. Spring and summer, for instance, will necessarily bring renewed energy and will, through more daylight, more sunshine, and more social interaction. Wintering all the way through fall, conversely, will necessarily bring tearfulness or fear about reentering routine or handling the holidays. These reactions, though mild, exist and have possible effects upon work production, interaction, and one's own perception of one's own self-value. Fortunately, there are practical methods for managing such seasonal mental health issues. Getting outside when there are light hours, even in winter, will conserve energy and mood. Physical exercise, light therapy, and regular sleep cycles also circumvent seasonal shift impacts. Lastly, Small changes toward personal care—such as writing journals, healthy eating of foods, or regular contact with relatives and close family/friends—can have much influence.

While there's not much that can be done about the seasons themselves, learning to adjust to them in healthy ways can maintain mental well-being. By becoming more compassionate, our minds, like our physical selves, are part of nature, which always reacts to the environment, and we are more forgiving towards ourselves. By staying one step in front and listening to what our mentalities are yearning for, all year round, we manage seasonal peaks and troughs more securely and reflectively.

Works Cited:

“How Do Seasons Affect Mental Health? | Otter House Wellness.” Otter House Wellness, 13 May 2024, otterhousewellness.com/blog/how-do-seasons-affect-mental-health/.

Mayo Clinic. “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic, 14 Dec. 2021, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651 .

NHS. “Overview - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).” Nhs.uk, NHS, 12 Feb. 2021, www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/overview/.