The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but research points to a combination of:
- Reduced sunlight exposure → disrupts circadian rhythms.
- Melatonin overproduction → leads to increased sleepiness.
- Serotonin imbalance → contributes to mood changes.
- Vitamin D deficiency → may affect serotonin levels and mood.
People in higher latitudes, such as in Europe or Canada, are more prone to SAD due to longer periods of darkness in winter.
Belgium is a rainy country, and we go for longer periods without sunlight. I always detect my thinking becoming more negative and prone to catastrophizing around these times.
Join our forum and Facebook
Please consider joining our forum and Facebook if you enjoyed reading this and would like to chat with like-minded peers about anything depression related.
It would certainly go a long way toward making my dream of creating a thriving, supportive community a reality!
