Depression in the springtime and the causes of its occurrence. The article will give recommendations to men and women on possible ways to eliminate the resulting seasonal pathology. Spring depression is a condition that some people consider to be a minor problem. By itself, this mental disorder does not destroy a person's personality. However, with an irresponsible attitude towards one's body against the background of voiced emotional disharmony, such a serious disease as clinical depression can develop. To prevent this complication, it is necessary to understand all the intricacies of this affective disorder.
Causes of Spring Depression
The depressed state of a person does not usually depend on seasonal changes in nature. However, there are such provocative factors that, in combination, are capable of causing despondency and outright apathy towards the entire surrounding reality. These aggressors look in relation to the emotional state of people as follows:
- Complexes because of the figure … During the winter, many of us gain a couple of extra pounds, and sometimes much more. Some people, after the end of the cold period, realize with horror that their favorite dress or skirt simply ceased to correspond to their new dimensions. In the cold season, everything is quite easy to hide behind immense sweaters and outerwear. However, in the spring, when the sun warmed up, this opportunity no longer exists. Because of this, even the very thought of having to bare the body leads to a state of depression. And at the same time, an excessive comparison of oneself with others can create a problem, which is more clearly noticeable when switching from large winter clothes to light ones.
- Loneliness … As soon as the sun warms up, young and happy couples actively go out for walks. Watching lovers is quite difficult if there is no other half. Especially if the age has already come to the point when they usually create families and have children. In addition, the problems are aggravated by annoying relatives with the requirement to find "someone" as soon as possible.
- The period "winter - spring" … Seasonal changes do not always have a beneficial effect on the human psyche. The mood of some eccentrics may directly depend on the time of year, which they enjoy watching from the window of their home. There is a contingent of people who like snow drifts, a series of merry holidays and other delights of the winter season. With the onset of spring, such fastidious people literally fall into depression.
- Unstable weather conditions … The season described is famous for its whims, when streams run merrily from melting snow in March, and frosts can occur in April - early May. All this is very individual, because much in this matter depends on where exactly the person lives. However, such vagaries of spring weather have a very negative effect not only on the physical condition of a person, but also on the balance of his nervous system.
- Lack of light … Not all people perceive a short day and a long period of being in darkness in winter unambiguously. In this case, we will talk about the lack of the so-called vitamin D, which tends to be synthesized exclusively under the influence of sunlight. Consequently, with the beginning of spring, the previously mentioned lack of light begins to affect some individuals.
- Weakened immunity … In the summer, all vitamin product sales outlets delight customers with their wide assortment of choices. During the whole winter, a person is deprived of such pleasure, which is actually a vital necessity. Some people amuse themselves with the illusion that vegetables and fruits bought in supermarkets in the cold season will replace them with a full-fledged diet of nutrients. In most cases, imported goods are offered in such places, which cannot replace domestic natural products. The result is a weakened immune system as a result of a lack of vitamins, trace elements and amino acids in the body.
- Sedentary lifestyle … Some people will be horrified by the offer to ski or go with the children to make a snowman. For them, frost is the main reason to spend all their leisure time lying down with a cup of hot tea and under a warm blanket. During the cold period, they get so used to this lifestyle that with the arrival of spring they do not want to rebuild and fall into depression.
- Oxygen starvation … This reason for the onset of the described pathology directly depends on a sedentary lifestyle. Physical inactivity in winter can play a cruel joke with any person. By refusing to be in the fresh air at this time, the reinsurer is automatically exposed to the risk of deterioration of the metabolic processes in his brain.
Most of the voiced risk factors for the onset of the formation of spring depression directly depend on the person himself. Even the absence of natural rather than synthetically grown fruits and vegetables in winter is no excuse for exposing your body to such stress. Technically correct quick freezing of products useful for the body allows you to fully preserve the necessary substances in the product prepared in advance.
The main symptoms of existing spring depression in a person
In order to have a clear idea of the problem that has arisen, you need to know the enemy by sight. It is quite easy to identify the signs of impending trouble in yourself if you make it a rule to listen carefully to your body.
Manifestations of Spring Depression in Women
Psychologists insist on the fact that when talking about a sounded pathology, one should clearly distinguish between its symptoms, based on the gender issue. In women, the spring imbalance of the nervous system usually looks like this:
- Increased irritability … If a woman did not initially position herself as a fully formed hysterical woman, then one should think about a sudden change in her behavior. Sometimes, with the arrival of the first spring warmth, yesterday's sweet and balanced person turns into a shrew with a bilious character, which literally annoys everything.
- Tears in three streams … This habit can be considered the norm, if the manifestation of their emotions in this way does not prevent the woman from remaining a sane person. In case of constant sobbing for no reason with the arrival of spring, it is worth thinking about the seasonal psychological disorder that has arisen.
- General weakness of the body … As already mentioned, during the winter period, the body of many people suffers from a lack of nutrients. However, much depends on the woman's immunity, which, without the sounded factor, could have been initially weakened. The additional load in the cold season on the already injured organism leads, as a result, to the quick fatigability of the lady.
- Anxiety … Spring depression in women often provokes the emergence of a persistent feeling of impending disaster. At the same time, it seems to wives that the husband is cheating on them, and mothers begin to take care of their children with special zeal. The phrases "let's play it safe" and "no matter how hard it happens" are becoming the calling card of a woman who plunged into a depressive state in the spring.
- Lowered self-esteem … Even a confident lady in the most unexpected way after the end of winter can turn into a person with obvious complexes. This is usually facilitated by the onset of the development of spring depression, which provoke real or far-fetched physiological changes in a woman's appearance.
- Sleep disturbance … In this case, it is necessary to focus on the factor that daylight hours tend to increase with the arrival of spring. Groundhog Day, when it gets dark early enough in winter, comes to a logical conclusion. However, some of the fair sex cannot immediately adapt to such a change, after which their sleep-wake regime is disturbed.
- Apathy … Symptoms of spring depression are very often determined by this emotional state of a woman. A person who was once vigorous in body and spirit becomes a sluggish and amorphous person who has ceased to be pleased with things that were once pleasant for her. In some cases, this factor is directly related to vitamin deficiency, but sometimes certain life situations provoke apathy.
- Attention disorders … With spring depression, especially sensitive females begin to soar in the clouds. In this case, we are not talking about fabulous dreams and dreams of a handsome prince, but about elementary absent-mindedness. In this case, medical intervention cannot be avoided, because the voiced problem has gone too far.
- Recurrent migraine … Changes in weather conditions very often affect women who have had headaches in the past. With sharp changes in atmospheric pressure, the described problem is significantly aggravated, adding seasonal depression to the lady to the painful sensations.
- Loss of appetite … A similar trouble can happen to a woman at any time of the year. However, practice shows that it is in the spring that many of the fair sex begin to extremes regarding gastronomic addictions and rejection of them.
- Dark thoughts … This problem is closely related to the resulting inferiority complex, which was formed in women with the onset of spring. Some especially suspicious natures imagine with horror that their soul mate will begin to look at beauties who will take off their winter clothes and change into sexy outfits.
- Overeating, increased appetite … Wanting to fill the void in the body from a lack of vitamins or simply "eating up" their problems, women begin to actively absorb sweets, eat large portions, thereby plunging even more into a depressed state.
- Isolation … Against the background of their psychological problems, the desire to communicate with someone completely disappears. Even the most active and cheerful ladies, immersed in their complexes, can withdraw and sit in confinement, not responding to friends' invitations, trying to avoid noisy companies as much as possible.
A woman in a state of spring depression is not a comic book character, but a victim of temporary life circumstances. Prematurely and without deep analysis, no specialist with a certain experience in this area will undertake to diagnose such persons.
Symptoms of Spring Depression in Men
A strong half of humanity can also feel the full destructive power of seasonal affective disorder.
Unlike beautiful ladies, men feel the described pathology in a slightly different way, which most often manifests itself as follows:
- The onset of chronic fatigue syndrome … A humorous statement in the style that "horses die from work" ceases to be ridiculous when there is a spring depression in men. Workaholic men are absolutely indifferent to the time of the year that they see from the windows of their institutions. However, some of the record holders in the marathon of relentless activity are visited by despondency after the snow melts and the arrival of spring, which ultimately leads to the spring depression.
- Change in weight … Every man can lose weight or gain weight unexpectedly, regardless of the weather conditions. However, psychologists say that it is with the seasonal blues that the representatives of the stronger sex either begin to actively absorb a large amount of food, or completely refuse it.
- Pain in the area of the abdomen or back … Emotional experiences always negatively affect the functioning of the whole organism. Very often it looks like cuts in the stomach and "shooting" in the back. With spring depression, these symptoms intensify, because vitamin deficiency further provokes the development of an anxiety state. In addition, the deceptive weather during this period, which pleases us with the first rays of the sun, is rich in the main enemy of the back - drafts. As a result, the man has very significant pain, which only exacerbates the state of depression.
- Excessive addiction to bad habits … A breakdown after a long winter period is always accompanied by an anxiety state in which a man begins to smoke much more than usual. Some depressed individuals in the spring, falling into deep despondency, try to fight it with the most radical methods - alcohol. And the opportunity to get out into nature after hibernation, have a barbecue or go fishing only becomes an additional incentive to increase the amount of alcohol consumption.
- erectile disfunction … The general weakening of the body after winter does not have the best effect on the sexual activity of any man. Someone at the same time understands the short duration of the problem that has arisen, and someone falls into a persistent depression.
- Negative thoughts … Men are used to considering themselves the head of the family and the support for all its members. If, at the beginning of the spring blues, a confident person begins to have health problems, then depression with this factor cannot be avoided. Representatives of the stronger sex do not like to show their emotions openly, therefore they accumulate in themselves all the negative thoughts that have arisen.
Ways to Deal with Spring Depression
You should not consider the voiced problem as a seasonal whim that does not need to be paid attention to. All neuroses at one time began with rather innocent emotional experiences. To the question of how to cope with the spring depression, experts give fairly clear answers, which are as follows:
- Changing the daily routine … Some people are accustomed to staying up late at the computer or taken home work. As a result, they do not get enough sleep and feel overwhelmed all day long. Avitaminosis and improper planning of one's life activity can lead to the development of spring depression. At the same time, you should radically change your opinion about the correct daily routine, making serious adjustments to it. It is necessary to devote your free time to sports exercises and walks in the fresh air. Visiting entertainment complexes will also help to cope with the problem that has arisen in the form of seasonal blues.
- Refusal of serious decisions … If a person begins to develop spring depression, then he cannot concentrate on important things. The most important projects and plans should be postponed for a while, because each mistake made then can aggravate the state of depression.
- Buying a pet … If there is no allergy to animal hair, then psychologists advise using this recommendation. It is not necessary to buy the future pet of the whole family for fabulous money. Sometimes a mongrel cat or dog is able to become such a devoted friend that there will be no trace of the spring depression. If you do not want to get yourself an animal, you can buy aquarium fish, the contemplation of which has a rather beneficial effect on the nervous system.
- Active communication with others … Loneliness is the main catalyst for exacerbating the spring depression. It is necessary to devote as much free time as possible to joint leisure with your loved ones and friends. Sometimes even visiting a nightclub and then not getting enough sleep can significantly raise the morale of a person who is influenced by the seasonal blues.
- Helping those in need … Before creating a “wall of crying” out of your life, you need to look around and take a closer look at the problems of other people. After the analysis carried out, many unfortunate people will be amazed at the number of victims who have found themselves in a much more deplorable situation. Helping such sufferers can nullify the exacerbation of spring depression in a suffering person.
- More light … On a cloudy spring day, sometimes you just want to mope and hide from your immediate surroundings. Lamps with high power will help to dispel a depressive mood of this kind. In this case, it will be an artificial imitation of sunlight, but even it can significantly raise the mood of a person with a voiced problem.
- Aromatic baths … In this regard, tangerine oil has proven itself well. If the first signs of spring depression have begun to appear, it is worth trying this remedy. If it is not possible to purchase it, then coniferous and lime concentrates are quite suitable as an alternative.
- Nice new things … If a person has become a victim of spring depression, then it is worth trying the voiced method. Even a purchased plastic plate in a bright color will visually delight people who are in a state of seasonal blues. If money allows, you can buy the thing that the sufferer has long liked.
Prevention of the onset of spring disorder
Our ancestors said, do not wake up smartly while it is quiet. In order not to fall into the trap of seasonal depression and not become hostage to a dangerous situation, you must adhere to the following rules:
- Correct diet … After hibernation, the body becomes urgently needed to take those products that contain catalysts for the release of endorphins (hormones of joy). These magic pills include nuts, bananas and chocolate in reasonable doses. Do not forget about fruits and vegetables that can keep a person afloat after some restrictions in his diet during the winter period.
- Taking multivitamins … This recommendation is limited by the fact that it should be implemented only after consulting your therapist. Useful substances are beneficial only if they are not overused. Vitamin B9 (folic acid) can then be taken either as a medicine or as a substitute in lettuce, beans, liver, and citrus fruits.
- Aromatherapy … Some pleasant scents have relaxation properties in certain cases. Essential oils based on the already sounded orange, juniper and cinnamon will be able to eliminate all the hardships of the past day in a person who cares about the proper functioning of his nervous system.
- Active lifestyle … Experts recommend using this method as a cardinal way to get rid of spring depression. Sports or simply feasible physical activity can destroy at the root any seasonal troubles with the emotional state of a person. Even simple walks around the city on sunny days or outings to nature can be positive.
- Chatting with funny people … If you have friends who can cheer you up, you should definitely spend as much time with them as possible. In general, you should not be isolated in yourself, limit your communication. If you don't have real friends, it's worth starting to meet new people. The same gym, swimming pool, new hobby will help with this.
- New hobbies … Finding yourself, a new “I”, studying unknown activities will help get rid of depression. These can be courses from professionals, a master class on the Internet. For example, photography, quilling or any other kind of hand-made.
How to deal with depression in the spring - watch the video:
When asking how to get rid of spring depression, you need to rely solely on your intuition. Only in a particularly emergency situation will the help of a psychotherapist be needed, because the voiced mental pathology is exclusively seasonal in nature.
