Winter Blues

According to a British psychologist, January 24 is the most depressing day of the year.

The terms Winter Depression or Winter Blues are used, especially when describing milder types of SAD.

What is SAD?

Animals react to the changing seasons with changes in mood, metabolism and behaviour and human beings are just the same. Most people find they eat and sleep slightly more in winter and dislike the dark mornings and short days. For some, however, symptoms are severe enough to disrupt their lives and to cause considerable distress. These people are suffering from SAD.

What causes it?

The problem stems from the lack of bright light in winter. Researchers have proved that bright light makes a difference to the brain chemistry, although the exact means by which sufferers are affected is not yet known. It is not a psychosomatic or imaginary illness.

But for all of those diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) ...good news: "Meet", a bar in London, has installed light boxes to cheer you up and serves non-alcoholic vitamin D enriched cocktails.