Winter depression is a condition that many people experience as the season changes from summer to fall and into winter. Some of the symptoms include a general feeling of lethargy, an overall sense of melancholy, and an increase in appetite, particularly for sweet things. The disorder seems to be partially genetic, and it is often worse for people who live in more northern parts of the world. Many experts think that winter depression might be somehow related to an innate need for light and the biological clock in some individuals. Several treatments have been used by experts, including therapy involving lights and medications.
This kind of depression has also been called seasonal affective disorder. It has been partially blamed for the increased number of suicides that happen in wintertime. Winter depression sufferers will generally start having symptoms in the fall as the days begin to shorten, and it will maximize as the light during the day reaches its shortest point during winter.
The reasons for the disorder are still unclear, but experts think it may be something that people are born with. There is also evidence of a family connection, which suggests that it may be primarily genetic. Some doctors think that the disorder happens as a result of light sensitivity and a natural inclination towards depression.
One thing experts have been able to pinpoint in regards to winter depression is a relation to the hormone melatonin. The body secretes melatonin to help people go to sleep. Winter depression sufferers often have increased levels of melatonin as the seasons change. This could potentially contribute to general feelings of lethargy and fatigue. High levels of melatonin could also help create an overall "down" mood, which could help explain the emotional aspects of winter depression.
The primary treatment used for this disorder is called light therapy. It involves having the affected individual sit in front of powerful lights for a set period of time every day. The exact timing of the light therapy can potentially be important, and most people tend to do better if they are exposed to light in the early morning. Late evening light exposure can also be helpful, but it has the potential to cause insomnia in some people, so most doctors avoid it. Light therapy is often used at home before a person goes to work, but sometimes people with appropriate work environments may actually bring the lights to work with them.