As the leaves begin to change and the days grow shorter, the transition from summer to fall brings more than just cooler temperatures and pumpkin-spiced everything. For many, the changing seasons can also bring a shift in mood and mental health. While autumn can be a time of reflection and renewal for some, others may find themselves struggling with feelings of sadness, fatigue, or anxiety as daylight decreases and routines change. Understanding how seasonal changes impact mental health is important for recognizing the signs of seasonal depression and taking steps to maintain your mental well-being.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, some Americans experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression that comes on in the fall/ winter and is thought to be related to decreased exposure to sunlight. Symptoms of SAD include negative mood, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, and decreased energy. But it’s not just our moods that shift with the changing of the seasons. In a new review (Hohm, Wormley, Schaller, & Varnum, 2023) found that seasons affect a wide range of mental and behavioral phenomena. Seasons also affect sex, aggression, and generosity. Our aesthetic preferences and cognitive abilities also vary throughout the year and change with the seasons.
Why Seasons Affect Us
There are a number of reasons why seasons may affect us the way that they do. Some of these reasons have to do with changes in exposure to sunlight as is likely the case with SAD or seasonal variation in sexual activity. In other cases, such as seasonal variation in generosity, the cultural associations we hold with different times of year, such as the traditions and norms surrounding Christmas, may be driving the effect.
Join us for an informative evening where together we will discuss:
Why Seasons Affect Us
The Science Behind Seasonal Mood Changes: How Your Brain Responds to the Seasons
Causes and Risk Factors for SAD.
Treatment Options for Seasonal Affective Disorder
Practical Tips for Managing Seasonal Affective Disorder
And ultimately How to cultivate a life of gratitude which is less likely to lead towards SAD.
How being in right relationship with certain elements and foods during the fall/winter seasons can assist the body in adapting more easily
How Winter specifically is a time for the Inner work or hibernation to begin and what that means
Come join us at A Sacred Sanctuary where speakers Traci & Timmy Gallagher will inspire, uplift and offer a new perspective on what it means to thrive and not just survive!!!
Please bring a journal, pen and water bottle for maximum comfort.
You may also like the following events from A Sacred Sanctuary:
- Next month, 21st November, 07:00 pm, Friendsgiving Sacred Circle, Sound Immersion & Potluck Event in Grove City
- Next month, 22nd November, 02:00 pm, Astrology 101 in Grove City
- This December, 12th December, 07:00 pm, 12:12 Portal Day Sacred Circle, Breathwork & Sound Immersion in Grove City
Also check out other
Health & Wellness events in Grove City.
