As we bid farewell to the vibrant days of summer and welcome the darkened hues of autumn, many of us experience a subtle shift in our moods. This seasonal transformation, while celebrated by some for its cozy ambiance and pumpkin-spiced everything, can be challenging for others. Here is the period of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), where the changing seasons might leave a temporary mark on our emotional well-being.
Throughout the year, our bodies and minds are attuned to the subtle dance of the seasons. As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, our internal rhythms respond in kind. The shift from the sun-drenched days of summer to the crisp, cool embrace of autumn heralds a transition in our emotional states. No doubt that this is widely known fact.
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Autumn, with its dwindling sunlight and the onset of gloomier weather, often ushers in a feeling of melancholy. This emotional shift is not confined to the realm of personal experience; it has garnered the attention of scientific inquiry. This phenomenon known is a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, most commonly manifesting in the fall and winter months.
Personally, I was always feeling this in myself both physically and mentally. Before I write this article, was reading a study about it.
The interesting part is, the cause of this symptom, which is also called “winter symptom”, is still remained uncovered but if you want to learn more about it you may start reading this and can get some ideas.
After some of the readings, I can tell that the causes of SAD are multifaceted. One prominent theory attributes the disorder to the reduced exposure to natural light that accompanies the changing seasons, disrupting our circadian rhythms and affecting the production of mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin and melatonin.
I don’t want to bore you with more scientific stuff. Let’s focus on world a bit then. For those living in northern latitudes, the impact of autumn’s descent is often more pronounced. In countries like Finland and Sweden, where daylight dwindles dramatically as winter approaches, many residents report the “winter blues”.
I assume you encountered some of those videos on social media that daylight and darkness take months to transfer their duties to another. Seems unreal to me.
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Interestingly, despite the prevalence of negative reviews regarding autumn’s arrival, some authors have found it rather charming. Edgar Allan Poe, known for his mastery of macabre and gothic tales, Ray Bradbury with his work “The October Country” imbued with the atmospheric essence of autumn, Albert Camus exploring themes of guilt and moral responsibility in his piece “The Fall”, and Mary Shelley, renowned for “Frankenstein”, which frequently showcased dark, brooding landscapes that mirrored the introspective and melancholic facets of autumn, all discovered an enchanting allure in this season.
Unbeknownst to me, I have actually read them all. Interestingly, some of these books took more time to finish for me, particularly when the melancholic atmosphere set in. I find myself wondering if this will be the same when it comes to my writing, especially considering that I’m now writing more than ever before.
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