![]() Serotonin is the neurotransmitter responsible for stabilising one’s mood. As winter draws near and the body is exposed to less sunlight, the production of serotonin is reduced. The lack of sunlight also affects the human body in another way. When this is disrupted it leaves one feeling tired and agitated, which can lead to depression. Your internal clock is responsible for telling you when to fall asleep, wake up, fall asleep, etc. Circadian rhythm is just a fancy name for your body’s internal clock. the sun, or more specifically, the amount of sunlight we are exposed to, impacts our circadian rhythm. I was shocked to learn that the sun does more than just give us vitamin D. ![]() In my attempts to prepare myself for the coming winter, I did some research on what triggers depression in the colder months. While colder months can bring about depression, summer has the ability to trigger mania (or hypomania) in people with seasonal-patterned bipolar disorder. If you are anything like me, then you are probably an individual with seasonal-pattern bipolar disorder or seasonal affective disorder (SAD). I have come to realise that my moods are fleeting, like the weather, and my mood cycles are more prominent during periods when weather transitions. Things like getting out of bed become difficult, and going to work seems almost impossible. I grow tenser and everything seems to irritate me. However, I also hate winter because, like the earth, I too feel reborn. I can spend hours snuggled with a good book and a cup of tea, and no one would think it unusual. I love winter. Winter means that I can now wear multiple layers of clothing without being the odd ball. Various textures and colours take over and it’s like the world is reborn. The change in time signals the transition from summer to fall nights begin to get longer while days are limited to few hours of sunlight. This is the first thing that came to mind on the 2nd of April, when Namibia officially changed to winter time.
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