Does rain make you sad? Do you feel the raindrops like your tears? Then you would possibly be stricken by the monsoon blues. You might have heard of the winter blues wherein one get pushed into a depressive state during the harsh winters. What causes this? It is called SAD—Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern. It is generally known as winter depression, but could be found during monsoon also.
If you have ever felt the consistent low mood, irritability, strong guilt, loss of interest in the daily activities, difficulty in concentrating and the like as the rain starts to pour down the street. If it had made you feel lethargic and sleepy throughout the day, sleeping less or more than normal and reluctant to get up in the morning and caused troubles in social interaction where you find yourself in a position with low self-esteem during a particular time of the year, then you are likely to suffer from SAD.
The new term ‘monsoon blues’ comes out as the researchers from the Brigham Young University found out that, on a rainy day, when the sun is hardly visible, people are prone to mood disorders. The study appeared in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
SAD syndrome could affect people differently. To some, it can be mild and to others, it can have severe aftermaths. This correlation between weather and mood states is an often ignored thing. Thus monsoon can trigger depression in people who are vulnerable to it. When there is a dip in the sunlight, the vitamin D levels decrease. This leads to a decrease in the serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter which is a natural mood stabilizer and is responsible for eating, sleeping, digestion etc.
Does one know why we have the tendency to intake pakodas or deep fried foods while it is raining heavily outside? This is caused by the drop in the serotonin. This leads to a craving for the carbohydrates. Consumption of such food might give a temporary relief and increase in serotonin. But gradually it causes lethargy. In the absence of light, the pineal glands releases melatonin, that causes drowsiness in a person. There is also a disruption in the circadian rhythm of the body, which is a natural internal process that regulates the sleep-wake up cycle.
If you exhibit depressive symptoms for more than a week which has been continuing since at least two years at the same time of the year without depression at any other point of time, you are more prone to be diagnosed with SAD. But you need to make sure that the depression is not due to any physical health issues.
Once you are diagnosed with SAD, there are certain treatment methods you could opt for. These include the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which works on the perception that the way you think influence the way you feel. Medication is advised wherein a preventive drug, Wellbutrin XL (bupropion hydrochloride) is prescribed to the affected. Others include light therapy, where the person is made to sit by a special lamp called a light box, usually for around 30 minutes to an hour each morning. Light could improve the SAD as it tends the brain to reduce the production of melatonin.
SAD is prevalent among women and is common in young adults. There are also chances of it getting worse in people already getting treated for depression.