For most people, winter is a time for cookies, Christmas lights, music, and communion. For others, the winter is a very depressing season. The thought of staying inside for a while due to snow, the cold air, even the blinding light reflecting off of the snow can cause people to feel a bit down. This feeling is known as seasonal affective disorder or winter depression.

Winter depression has been a mystery to scientists for decades. They know for a fact that brain chemicals, ions in the air, and genetics seem to be involved. According to Web MD, “people suffering from winter depression have one thing in common – the sensitivity to light or the lack of light. Many studies have shown that people with winter depression usually feel better after being exposed to bright light.” However, it’s not just this; these people need to be exposed to bright light at specific times.

This specificity makes it tough for people who wake up early. Their brains tell them it’s time to wake up, but if they wake up before dawn then their mood can get affected. They need to wake up when the sun starts coming up to get some sort of light. However, if people still wake up early, they can compensate for the lack of light by staying active. If you have winter depression and decide to stay indoors all day and do nothing, your mind will be at risk for the severity of the depression.

People classified with winter depression aren’t necessarily depressed for the whole day or the whole season either. They can have trouble waking up, have bouts of fatigue during the day, or feel compelled to overeat without even feeling depressed. If you start feeling down during the festive season, don’t panic. Go do something proactive and try to stay positive. Enjoy the holidays.