Shorter days can hit hard: Here's how you can cope
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Kansas City winters can feel exceptionally long when it gets dark before dinner and the cold keeps you inside more than you planned.
Why it matters: Feeling a little down during darker months is common, but the American Psychiatric Association (APA) says about 5% of U.S. adults experience a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Context: Reduced daylight can disrupt brain chemicals like serotonin, which affects mood, and melatonin, which regulates sleep, according to the APA.
- According to the APA poll, two-thirds of adults notice at least one winter change, like sleeping more, feeling tired or feeling down.
Zoom in: The difference between winter blues and SAD comes down to how constant and disruptive the symptoms are.
- SAD often involves feeling depressed most of the time and losing interest in things that used to bring joy, former APA president Petros Levounis tells Axios.
What they found: Treatment options can include medication and talk and light therapy. Levounis says sleep is crucial during the fall and winter.
- Going to bed and waking up around the same time each day helps stabilize mood and gives you a sense of routine and stability during the winter months.
- Getting outside can also help, Levounis says, even if that means bundling up for a short walk around your neighborhood on a cold day.
💠Abbey's thought bubble: KC winters can feel isolating at times. I've felt it. My remedy has always been to reach out to loved ones, even for a quick check-in, because it helps more than trying to push through it alone.
What's next: We want to know what helps you get through it. Do you go on morning walks? Maybe you visit your favorite coffee shop more often. Do you have a solid playlist you'd like to share?
- Hit reply and tell us how you keep your spirits up when the days get short.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show Levounis is the former APA president (not current).