Three months ago, I moved to East Texas from northern Michigan. One of the biggest changes for me is going to be the weather.
Even though it is starting to get cold here, it is starting to be winter in Michigan. The local temperatures “up north” this week were in the low 30s, and the snow has already begun to fly. The days have gotten short, and the SAD season has begun.
When I say SAD, I am referring to Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is an actual clinical condition that afflicts a lot of people. It is a type of depression that affects someone at the same time every year. For most people it usually starts in the fall and continues through the winter months. It can happen at other times of the year, but is less common in the spring and summer. It is more common as you get farther from the equator, but is present in all parts of the world, including East Texas.
The specific cause of this annual depression is still unknown. Some who have studied it have pinpointed certain factors that may play a role. One possibility is the reduced amount of sunlight we get in the fall and winter. A low level of sunlight can mess with your circadian rhythm (biological clock), melatonin levels, and serotonin levels in the brain. All of these can wreak havoc on your sleep and mood. It can cause appetite changes and lead to weight gain, decreased energy and eventually lead to a depression.
A good way to combat all of these changes is with regular exercise. There are numerous studies out there that have shown the positive effects of exercise on depression in general, and specifically Seasonal Affective Disorder. Regular exercise has been proven to help relieve stress, anxiety and improve mood. Exercise can also help stabilize appetite and energy levels. The best results seem to come from exercise that is a moderate intensity and done on most days of the week. Aerobic exercise is usually the exercise of choice. This includes brisk walking, jogging, or swimming. Basically, any exercise that gets your heart rate up is sustained for at least 30 minutes could work.
Of course, as with any clinical condition, if you think that you might have a seasonal mood disorder, you should consult your physician before beginning an exercise program. If your doctor agrees that exercise could help, lace up your tennis shoes, or snow shoes where I’m from, and get moving.
Kolby Andrews is an ACSM Clinical Exercise Specialist at Trinity Mother Frances Health and Fitness.
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