One of the things that makes it possible for our planet to support advanced civilizations is 23.5 degrees of tilt.

What in the world am I talking about?

In relation to the plane of the solar system, the Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees.  Because of that tilt, we have cycles of seasons as the Earth orbits around the sun. 

Without that tilt, the weather and temperatures on the Earth's surface would be fairly constant.  We'd have some change depending on how far north or south you are from the equator, or how high you are in elevation.  But there would be no seasonal change at any elevation or at any latitude.  No fall, no spring, no summer, no winter.  Every day would be an equal 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of darkness, no matter where you stood.   The equator would be unbearably hot all year long, while the polar regions would be locked in permanent ice.  Most life would inhabit moderate climate bands between the scorching equator and the frozen poles.  Birds wouldn't migrate, bears wouldn't hibernate, it's possible humanity would never have evolved.

We should be genuinely grateful for that 23.5 degrees!

Because of that 23.5 degrees we can look forward to the flowers of Spring, Summer vacations, Autumn harvest, and the beauty of a Winter Wonderland.

Unfortunately, that tilt causes problems for some of us, and not just the winter blues.

Ever heard of Spring Mania?  How about Autumn Transition Fatigue?  Or Summer Depression?

They're all a thing.  Some of us are just more sensitive to the change in seasons than others.

December is Seasonal Depression Awareness Month.  

Why December if Seasonal disorders happen all year?  Because the most common season to be impacted by seasonal change is winter, and the deepest of winter days occurs in December--the Winter Solstice that falls on or near the 20th.  

We've all heard of the Winter Blues or Winter Blahs.  Everyone gets those to some degree, especially the farther north you live.  Short days, lack of sun exposure, lots of gray snowy days.  A little dip in your Vitamin D production can make you feel a bit run down.  

40% of Americans report that mood sometimes worsens during the winter months.  Sometimes feeling rundown or grumpy.

Remember that old 80s sit-com, Northern Exposure?  A young Doctor from New England lands a job in a small Alaska town in exchange for repayment of his hefty student loans.  He faces the quirks of small town Alaska life and personalities, as well as the problems unique to living above the Arctic Circle.  In one episode, (Season 5 Episode 17 "Una Volta in L'Inverno") it's midwinter, with 24-hour nights, and half the town walks around with mood light visors on their heads. 

That's one way to combat the problem!

But for some, it gets worse.  

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects roughly 5% or American adults, with symptoms like low energy, hypersomnia (sleeping too much), carbohydrate cravings, weight gain, social withdrawal, and feelings of hopelessness.  Someone with SAD wants nothing more than to curl up in a dark room and hibernate the winter months away.  Maybe it's some ancient gene that developed to its fullest in bears and squirrels but remains latent in human genetic structure.  

Interstingly, SAD can impact mood during other seasons as well.  Someone with Winter Depression may also have Summer Depression which exhibits with opposite affects.  For example, Summer Depression often exhibits with INsomnia rather than HYPERsomnia, agitation rather than low energy, decreased appetite and weight loss rather than cravings and weight gain, anxiety rather than depression.

But there's hope.  There are things we can do.

For most, it's simply a matter of:

• getting outside a little more
• spending more time engaging with people,
• doing something we enjoy, or
• making a conscientious effort to eat a well-balanced diet.

For those with more severe symptoms, we might also:

• seek the help of a therapist,
• add high-lumen light therapy to our daily routine, and
• take a high-quality Vitamin D supplement.  

We'd like to help spread awareness of SAD, Winter Blues, and all the things we struggle with as humans.

Our MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS coloring poster is a great way to do that, and to give yourself a little DIY therapy!  

Coloring is therapeutic, after all.

We also have plenty of designs to help you think of warmer weather and sunnier days, or even simply to put a smile on your face.

Come color with us!

 

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*Images generated by AI