Don't Be Sad This Winter
type: Post
type: BlogPost
modified: 2023-02-14T00:15:19Z
created: 2018-05-17T15:05:30Z
link: https://boomersclub.com.au/2018/05/17/dont-sad-this-winter/
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encoded: Don’t let winter make you SAD this year Summertime, and the living was easy… Summer is a distant memory, and unless you live in Queensland or the Northern Territory, it is a fair bet to say that your wardrobe has changed from t-shirts to warm sweaters to keep you snug. Winter, however, also has its charm: cozy ﬁres, hearty stews and long walks in a blustering wind can give us a feeling of wellbeing. Just make sure that winter does not make you SAD this year. You may be one of 10% of people who suffer from S.A.D., Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is regarded as a form of (seasonal) depression. S.A.D. is also referred to as “winter depression” or “winter blues” and seems linked to a lack of sunshine. With S.A.D., symptoms start to develop in autumn and gradually worsen as winter progresses. Winter’s subtle changes Craving sweets and starchy foods and weight gain is not uncommon. Sleeping becomes more important; all you want to do is snuggle up under your doona. Science thinks this dates back to how our ancestors hibernated in winter, a season of hardship in ‘Caveman’ times. Conservation of energy was achieved during the long dark periods when foods was scarce; the added weight and increased sleeping time, reduced the need for hunting and gathering. You may feel unmotivated, lethargic and more tired than usual; you may not understand why, and neither does your doctor. Seasonal Affective Disorder is often under- or misdiagnosed, perhaps even more so in Australia, the country perceived by many as “forever sunny.” In northern areas of Europe, the United States and Canada, S.A.D. affects an estimated 5-23% of the population. Figures in Australia are unknown, but may well match these numbers, especially in the southern states. The amount of sunlight received during winter in Victoria and Tasmania can be as little as 3.8 hours per day. Not as bad as the United Kingdom where from December to February an average of 2.1 hours of sunlight is common. But still, just over 3 hour…
content: Don’t let winter make you SAD this year Summertime, and the living was easy… Summer is a distant memory, and unless you live in Queensland or the Northern Territory, it is a fair bet to say that your wardrobe has changed from t-shirts to warm sweaters to keep you snug. Winter, however, also has its charm: cozy ﬁres, hearty stews and long walks in a blustering wind can give us a feeling of wellbeing. Just make sure that winter does not make you SAD this year. You may be one of 10% of people who suffer from S.A.D., Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is regarded as a form of (seasonal) depression. S.A.D. is also referred to as “winter depression” or “winter blues” and seems linked to a lack of sunshine. With S.A.D., symptoms start to develop in autumn and gradually worsen as winter progresses. Winter’s subtle changes Craving sweets and starchy foods and weight gain is not uncommon. Sleeping becomes more important; all you want to do is snuggle up under your doona. Science thinks this dates back to how our ancestors hibernated in winter, a season of hardship in ‘Caveman’ times. Conservation of energy was achieved during the long dark periods when foods was scarce; the added weight and increased sleeping time, reduced the need for hunting and gathering. You may feel unmotivated, lethargic and more tired than usual; you may not understand why, and neither does your doctor. Seasonal Affective Disorder is often under- or misdiagnosed, perhaps even more so in Australia, the country perceived by many as “forever sunny.” In northern areas of Europe, the United States and Canada, S.A.D. affects an estimated 5-23% of the population. Figures in Australia are unknown, but may well match these numbers, especially in the southern states. The amount of sunlight received during winter in Victoria and Tasmania can be as little as 3.8 hours per day. Not as bad as the United Kingdom where from December to February an average of 2.1 hours of sunlight is common. But still, just over 3 hour…
topic: lifestyle
topic: wellbeing
topic: general
topic: health
topic: boomers-health
topic: winter
topic: no
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topic: https://boomersclub.com.au/
attachment: https://boomersclub.com.au/