Sloan Jambor ‘26, Sports Editor
Every year, people of all ages tend to feel a greater amount of sadness gnawing at them during the winter months. Many refer to this feeling as winter depression; however, just because the topic is often brought up does not mean it gets the attention it deserves. There are multiple factors that play into the gray clouds looming over one’s head during these long winters, and seasonal depression is not just a misconception that people use to grab the attention of those around them.
As a harsh Michigan winter nears, people see fewer hours of sunlight, the amount of natural light is dimmed, and the sky is covered in gloomy clouds. According to Healthline, “Without enough sun exposure, your serotonin levels can dip. Low levels of serotonin are associated with a higher risk of major depression with seasonal patterns.” Serotonin is essentially a reaction in your body that regulates your happiness, so without the typical production of serotonin, a clear decrease in feelings of happiness will occur for many. In the summer, people spend a lot more time outside to enjoy warm weather, so they get plenty of sunlight, which leads to the release of serotonin—and more feelings of happiness overall. Michigan loses its sunlight, but the people gain more serotonin production; therefore, the depression grows as the winter season extends.
Along with lowering serotonin levels, a decrease in sunlight results in less Vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for keeping your mood and body functions stable; consequently, since individuals’ Vitamin D levels are dropping, there is likely going to be a general decrease in their moods. Teenagers are primary victims of mood decreases as they are a lot less experienced in regulating their emotions and more vulnerable to snapping at their friends and family. Sophomore Mallory Kogling said, “As the winter approaches, I find myself gaining less patience with my family and friends and getting mad at them more.” Anger and vulnerability have the ability to make people feel a lot more withdrawn from the world, and in this case, the experience of ‘getting in your head’ is a clear symptom of depression. Without people getting the correct amount of Vitamin D—mostly due to the lack of sunlight—comes the increase in anger and depression.
The reduced sunlight does not only cause one to become more distressed, but it can also be the reason that people feel a greater urge to sleep more in the winter. According to Sanguina, a website that helps inform people about their possible illnesses, “The reduced sunlight exposure that comes with winter can cause us to become more sluggish and sleepier. This is because our bodies produce melatonin—a hormone responsible for helping us fall asleep—in response to darkness.” Not only is there less sunlight because of the clouds but also because of the sun setting earlier. Since the sun is rising around eight a.m. and setting around five p.m., people are only getting around eight hours of sunlight instead of the typical 12 hours during the warmer months. During the summer, there is a lot more sunlight, preventing melatonin production, so people do not have a sense of tiredness like they would in the dull winter months.
While every state has cases of seasonal depression, the population of some states faces it to a greater extent than others. For example, California lacks sunlight in the winter months like everybody else, but it gets more sunlight than a northern state like Michigan. California sees the sunrise around seven a.m., and the sun sets around five p.m. That being said, they have two extra hours of daylight, meaning that Californians will not produce as much melatonin as Michiganders during winter. Not only do states like California have more sunlight, but they also have a lot less cloudy days compared to northern states.
Seasonal depression arises each year, and the reasons for it are apparent, but there are definitely ways to help yourself through it. When the sun is shining, take that time to go and soak up the Vitamin D: take your vitamins, go sledding, or even get a sun lamp. Winter does not always have to bring feelings of sadness, as long as you find ways to enjoy the cold weather and embrace the changing seasons.
Lyon Life 