Mr. A, a housewife in her 40s, spends a lot of time lying in bed lately. Mr. A explained that it is difficult to go out due to the cloudy and humid weather, and that he sweats even if he moves even a little, so he just stays still. There is one more factor that deepens Mr. A’s먹튀검증 helplessness. That’s flood news. Every time the story of people who lost their families and lives due to heavy rain is known, Mr. A falls into a deep sense of loss. Maybe because of that, there are more days when I can’t sleep at night.
Mr. A’s symptoms are typical of seasonal depression. Seasonal depression refers to a phenomenon in which depression appears due to a certain climate. About 5% of the population is known to experience seasonal depression. Seasonal depression is closely related to the neurotransmitter hormone melatonin. Melatonin, which regulates the circadian rhythm, is secreted in greater amounts than usual when the amount of sunlight decreases. The problem is that this phenomenon leads to hormonal imbalance. Excessive secretion of melatonin breaks the circadian rhythm and causes lethargy, depression, fatigue, sleep disorders, and loss of appetite. The reason for the frequent occurrence of seasonal depression in Nordic countries is also closely related to the amount of sunlight.
Yoo Yeong-seon, head of the Department of Psychiatry at Daedong Hospital, said, “If seasonal depression symptoms do not improve or worsen, it is better not to hesitate to visit a psychiatrist and seek counseling,” adding, “If you delay treatment, it can develop into chronic depression.”
In order to overcome depression during the rainy season, it is important to maintain a regular wake-up and sleep time. It is also a good idea to avoid napping as much as possible. The optimum water temperature in summer is 24-26 degrees Celsius. It is good to set the temperature of the air conditioner to 20 to 25 degrees about an hour before going to bed and turn it off after creating a cool environment. During the rainy season, it is important to lower the humidity by using a dehumidifier or a fan. The optimal humidity for a good night’s sleep is around 50%.
When the sun is shining, don’t miss the time and go for a walk outside, even for a few minutes. If going out is difficult, it is necessary to relax the body by doing indoor stretching in a place with natural light. Nevertheless, if depression persists for more than 2 weeks, or if weight changes or sleep disorders appear, you should be diagnosed through a psychiatrist. Non-drug treatments include a method of exposing the retina to light of 10,000 lux or more using a phototherapy machine.