Is Winter Making You SAD?

Like many people, you may get a gloomy feeling during the winter that makes you want to curl up in bed all day. If so, you might be affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is common during the winter season. Although the disorder has been known for centuries, modern neuroscience has pointed us in the direction of a possible cause.

“About 15 years ago, researchers from Brown University discovered light sensitive cells in the eye that send messages directly to the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that has little to do with vision but a lot  to do with motivation and arousal,” said visual neuroscientist and associate professor in psychology at Millersville, Dr. Shawn Gallagher. “When these cells are exposed to light, they send positive messages to the hypothalamus, which could influence motivation and activity levels. However, when someone is not exposed to enough sunlight, as often happens in the winter months, the lack of brain stimulation could lead them to feel sluggish and gloomy.  Even worse, artificial indoor lighting has very little of the short-wavelength light needed to activate the special cells. “We might be depriving our brains of an important ‘wake-up call’,” said Gallagher.

For decades, people in northern latitudes have appreciated the link between daylight and mood and clinicians have attempted to treat SAD with phototherapy, intentional, scheduled exposure to bright light. Gallagher suggests that this approach makes sense and, although you can purchase bright lamps specially designed for phototherapy, there are simpler approaches like “opening those curtains and shades in the daytime and, chilly though it may be, getting outside in the early daylight hours.”

“This could be very helpful to those who are feeling a mood change during this time of the year. However, if someone is still feeling depressed or having severe mood changes, they should consult a medical professional.”