There are only two constants in this life: the Earth will spin around the sun, bringing with it the changing of the seasons; and I will not stop talking about how seasonal changes can potentially affect your mental health. Summer heat can be dangerous, directly affecting our health and heightening the risk of violent crimes. Winter weather is also potentially dangerous for your mental health, but in a different way! At this point, you may be wondering why the weather hates you and you specifically, but that’s not something I’m at liberty to tell you, dear reader. What I can tell you is that certain mental health conditions appear to be adversely affected by winter weather conditions, and there are ways to mitigate this effect. While the summer heat can make good people go bad, the winter cold can make all people feel sad – or should I say SAD? That joke will make sense in a moment, but it still won’t be very funny or alleviate those winter SADs.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a relatively well-known condition whereby individuals experience depressive symptoms during the autumn and winter months. Symptoms include loss of appetite and motivation, and a sense of listlessness and fatigue. SAD is not the only mental health condition impacted by winter weather; research suggests that diagnoses of bipolar disorder, and substance abuse disorder may also increase during the winter months. Biologically, we can understand the relationship between winter weather and conditions such as SAD and bipolar disorder like so: during winter, a decrease in sunlight results in a deficiency of vitamin D, which disrupts serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin production in the brain. Decreased sunlight exposure disrupts healthy sleeping patterns, and can leave you feeling unmotivated and tired. Exposure to sunlight is incredibly important for your mental health.  

It’s also important to note that winter weather is not social weather, and most people tend to spend more time indoors when the temperature starts to drop and the sun sets earlier. The isolation that may come with winter can also contribute to incidence of SAD, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse disorder, stemming from a sense of loneliness and apathy. Research suggests that drug overdoses increase in winter, and incidences of substance abuse tend to do the same. Individuals may turn to substance abuse as a response to the psychological impacts of winter, or as a way to feel warmer, due to the effects of alcohol on the body. Lower temperatures may also drive individuals to increase the dosage of the substances they use, as the cold weather may dampen the perceived effects of these substances. Basically, don’t do drugs in the wintertime. Don’t do drugs at all, but especially not in winter.

While the effects of winter on mental health is relatively well-known, and slightly less prevalent in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s still an issue that many South Africans live with, and which many people tend to brush off and not fully engage with. The stigma surrounding mental health still exists, and can easily be internalised, making it difficult to acknowledge the full weight of what you feel. It’s important not to downplay your experience and to maintain healthy habits during the winter. Cold weather doesn’t have to leave you isolated – you can get in touch with friends and family over any of the many free social media and communication platforms we have available to us! Your health matters to the people around you and they will want to support you, so don’t be shy to reach out. Stay active and exercise – you can do it within the comfort of your own home! Exercising is not just about gaining muscle or losing weight, and it will benefit both your mind and your body. Working out works wonders for your mental health, is a great way to destress, and it has turned me into the absolute unit that I am today.

So, dress warm, stay safe, and thank you for reading my blog, dear reader. The weather might hate you, but I think you’re pretty cool.