Let It Snow

Sreyan Jahangir

Features

‘Tis the season! Halloween decorations have been replaced with festive lights, behemoth-sized Santas, reindeer with or without the signature red nose, and alluring yet inedible candy canes. More important, however, is the monument of the holiday season—snow. Although our city isn’t quite blanketed with white dust, we’ve seen decent levels of snowfall since late November. With snow comes a plethora of possibilities: snow angels, snowball fights, and snowmen. Still, snow does bring about unpleasant effects: poor driving conditions, freezing cold temperatures, build-up of slush, and, surprisingly—depression.

So how does snow lead to depression? Well, it’s not a direct cause-and-effect situation. Snow is a byproduct of winter and fall: two seasons that have a remarkably higher depression rate than their other two counterparts. In some individuals, this results in a subcategory of depression named Seasonal Affective Disorder. Humorously abbreviated as SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression that relates to the changing seasons. The causes of SAD vary from a change in one’s circadian rhythm (body’s natural clock) caused by the loss of daylight, to a drop in serotonin and melatonin levels (hormones affecting mood and sleep, respectively), caused by a change in the amount of sunlight or a forced change in one’s sleeping patterns. The symptoms of SAD are similar to that of regular depression: loss of interest in activities, low energy, troubles with sleeping, changes in diet and weight, etc.

The treatments for SAD can vary if one has bipolar disorder or a family history with SAD. Typically, though, treatments include medication, light therapy, and psychotherapy. Medications such as antidepressants may be prescribed if symptoms are severe. Light therapy, or phototherapy, is most notable due to its effectiveness. Patients are given a light box which projects strong bright lights for a few hours during the morning to mimic natural outdoor light. Finally, psychotherapy, or talk therapy, uses a one-on-one approach with a cognitive behavioural therapist to help with scheduling activities and managing stress.

As we strap on our winter boots, put on our hefty jackets, and don our oversized mittens and hats, we should be aware of its downsides as well. Keep in mind that depression is not cured by simply cheering up. It is a debilitating illness that can consume a person whole. As such, even though you might be feeling a little down because of the incessant snowfall and shorter days, do not chalk it up to the “winter blues.” You could be feeling sad, or you could be dealing with something much worse: SAD.