The seasons are changing and so are our emotions. One day we could be enjoying our summer day routine with sleeping in, swimming, hanging with friends, and staying up late. But then all of a sudden the back to school shopping begins, the leaves are changing, school starts, days get shorter, and we are living off of chai and pumpkin spice. These changes change more than just the weather and the leaves but it can also affect our emotions. 

I decided to ask our MS/US counselor Laura Dickinson a little more in detail about this topic. Dickinson says “There is a form of seasonal depression called seasonal affective disorder. People sometimes use special light and light therapy to combat this.”

  Dickinson tells us that “The happiest times of the year are connected to more sunlight and being outside more. In the summer we socialize at the lake, beach, pool, hike etc. Physical activity and sunlight are associated with serotonin release as well as endorphins. Also, young people who are still in school have more free time and many families take vacations.”

Dickinson also says “Spring is typically a time of year that represents renewal, days get longer, and summer is in sight. Winter can be difficult with shorter days, less Vitamin D from the sun, and colder weather. In parts of the US or world where it is darker for more hours of the day, you can see an increase of depression and substance use. Research is not clear if this is due to less sunlight or the cold, but they both are at play. People are also more likely to struggle when they have been physically ill. The winter also breeds more sickness.”

Here she tells us about her favorite seasons, “I love the summer, but I am huge football fan so it is hard to beat the fall for me. I like the coolness of the air, the change in the leaves, getting back to school, and football fun!”