“Why am I sad/mad all the time?” Seasonal change might be why! Going from a warm summer breeze to the coldness of snow is a big change for our bodies. Fall makes your skin dry, winter gets you cold, summer you always sweat or are too hot, and in spring you get allergies. But there’s more to seasonal changes than just physical health.
Mental Health Impacts
Your mood always changes, it’s not being ‘bipolar’, it’s SAD. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) starts during the late fall. “SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a type of depression characterized by a recurrent pattern, with symptoms lasting about 4-5 months out of the year.” (“Seasonal Affective Disorder – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)”
The symptoms included are…
- Persistent sadness, anxiety/anxious, nearly every day or at least 2 weeks.
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness
- Feelings of guilt
- Loss of interest in things you once were interested in, like hobbies/activities
- Decreased energy/feeling slowed down
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in sleep or appetite
- Physical pains, headaches, cramps, etc
- Thoughts of death/self-harm
(“Seasonal Affective Disorder – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)”
Why does Seasonal Depression happen?
It is said that Seasonal Depression happens because of the ‘lack’ of sunlight. It disrupts the body’s internal ‘clock’. So it triggers depression. However, that’s not the only reason why, in some cases, it runs in families/genes, sometimes depending on your age, as it is usually more common in younger adults or in certain locations. It’s more common for people who live farther from the equator, as daylight hours are shorter in winter. (“Seasonality and Climate Change | US EPA”)
Not only does Seasonal Change impact mental and physical health, but it also impacts the nature around us. Seasonal Change impacts nature by changing the duration of the seasons.
Impact on Climate
“Spring arrives a fortnight (a period of 2 weeks) earlier on average, and autumn two weeks later.(Polytechnique De Paris) Global warming is the cause of this/ rising temperatures. “This change in seasons is mainly due to rising temperatures. Not only is the world heating up, but the temperatures are also dropping in some places. In Hawaii’s residential areas, it’s snowing, in tropical locations, and in Northern Africa. And Hurricanes, like Hurricane Melissa, which is hitting southwestern Jamaica as a Category 5 storm with wind speeds of 185 mph right now. (BBC NEWS)
Works Cited
BBC NEWS. “Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica with violent winds as authorities warn of ‘catastrophic’ flooding.” BBC NEWS, BBC NEWS, 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cvgvexdjp1xt. Accessed 28 10 2025.
Polytechnique De Paris. “What impact does climate change have on the seasons?” Polytechnique Insights, Jadu Dash, 16 4 2024, https://www.polytechnique-insights.com/en/columns/planet/what-impact-does-climate-change-have-on-the-seasons/. Accessed 10.28.25 October 2025.
“Seasonal Affective Disorder – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).” National Institute of Mental Health, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder. Accessed 28 October 2025.
“Seasonality and Climate Change | US EPA.” EPA, https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/seasonality-and-climate-change. Accessed 28 October 2025.
