Autumn Is The Sunday Of The Year

Many times we are not aware that the seasonal changes of the year require our body to carry out an important adaptation process. The lack of sunlight present in seasons such as autumn or winter, for example, directly affects our mood. Do you notice that you have more or less vitality after a week of rain and gray skies?

Like this, there are other characteristic factors of autumn that cause severe mood swings in us. The most decisive of them all is undoubtedly our attitude when facing the transition to winter. How can we get 100% to the coldest time of the year?

The influence of autumn on our well-being

At the beginning of autumn, either in the northern hemisphere (October) or in the south (March), people usually manifest various changes in our mood. Although each one can suffer them differently and to different degrees, in general, this change of season generates apathy, anhedonia and / or fatigue.

In summer the days are longer and the hours seem to be used more. In addition, as we usually have a few weeks of vacation to rest and enjoy with our families, we find ourselves more relaxed and calm. We notice that we have fewer responsibilities than the rest of the year, we live without haste and without suffering the monotony and constant stress of the day to day work.

However, at the beginning of autumn this situation changes radically : the days are getting shorter and longer, the nights are longer, the hours of light decrease and the good weather is replaced by rain and cold.

September, either dries up the fountains or takes away the bridges

The drop in temperatures invites us to stay at home and spend less time outdoors and even to isolate ourselves socially. Likewise, the change of weather can bring us certain colds that make us feel weaker and more vulnerable. Seeing the leaves fall from the trees and storing themselves on the ground also transmits nostalgia and sadness.

In turn, we often transform our wardrobe into austerity personified. We went from wearing garments in bright and cheerful tones to wearing a more sober and darker color range.

The hormonal revolution

These external factors and, in particular, climatic changes and the reduction of sunlight cause a series of hormonal changes that shake our energy throughout the day :

• Increased production of melatonin : its increase in blood makes us always feel tired and we have more desire to sleep and rest.

• Decreased serotonin : It suffers from increasing melatonin, because it unbalances sleep cycles, mood swings and mood.
• Decreased dopamine : causes loss of attention and general disinterest.

It can lead to “fall depression”

If the decrease in mood is very acute and persistent, we may be suffering from what is known as “autumn depression” or “winter”. But stay calm! It is a temporary situation that can be avoided if the appropriate measures are taken. 

Its symptoms are an excessive lack of energy and interest in what surrounds you, reluctance, irritability and bad mood, difficulties in falling asleep and concentration problems. In some cases, it is also characterized by strong feelings of loneliness, real or unreal.

How to fight it

These types of mood disorders should be consulted with specialists, but we can improve their symptoms by introducing small changes in diet and by performing some daily activities.

On a nutritional level, it is convenient to maintain adequate intake of vitamins C and B and minerals such as calcium and magnesium, essential for the production of neurotransmitters. As supplements, we can ingest valerian and passionflower to relax and increase the quality of our sleep.

Sometimes we think that vacations are running out of time we can dedicate to ourselves. But it is a mistake. We must continue to find those gaps for leisure and entertainment and fill them with activities that generate pleasure. For example, playing sports. Although the weather does not allow it to be done outdoors, also indoors is a good way to recover and maintain a positive attitude.

Along with the body, the mind can also be cultivated through reading, visits to the theater, the cinema or museums; listening to music, having a good conversation with friends or sharing a special time with our partner or children.

Radically stopping those little activities that make us happy supposes the loss of reinforcement and a gradual increase in our apathy. Ultimately, this produces a drop in our mood and high levels of stress.

Fall depression is not post-vacation syndrome

Post-vacation depression is the state in which a worker finds himself when his adaptation process between his vacation period and his return to work fails.

Its symptoms are very similar to those of autumn depression, although they can be accompanied by significant physical ailments such as muscle aches that contribute to decreased performance.

In addition, this syndrome can appear throughout the year, when the person returns from vacation. Thus, if for various reasons the worker postpones them to November, the post-vacation syndrome will manifest it some time later.

However, the autumn depression is linked to a specific period of the year: the end of summer and the arrival of the new season. On the other hand, post-vacation syndrome affects mainly young people, generally those under 45 years of age; whereas the autumn depression makes vulnerable mainly the older adults.

As you have seen, there are various factors in autumn that put our physical and psychological well-being at risk. But that does not have to prevent this season from becoming the best season of the year. You just have to learn how to take advantage of it!