How Does Spring Affect Us On A Psychological Level?
More and more patients come to consultation for this reason. They mention that they feel more irritable, irascible and that they can barely sleep “They feel depressed and less willing to do things,” says psychologist Pilar Cortés, from the Málaga PsicoAbreu Psychologists Office.
These experiences that patients mention are a reality; seasonal changes affect physically and psychologically and the person has to go through a process of adaptation to the new situation, which can take weeks to complete.
It seems logical to think that the rise in temperatures, the change of time, the possibility of making more plans and other similar elements have a positive effect. But this is not always the case, spring affects many people in a negative way. The most common symptoms are usually fatigue, lack of energy and low mood. This is known as spring asthenia Let’s see what it consists of.
Spring asthenia is a feeling of tiredness and weakness that begins to manifest with the arrival of good weather.
The symptoms can be very diverse : lack of memory, sleep disorders, headaches, low mood, appetite disturbances, decreased sexual appetite, irritability and nervousness, generalized tiredness, lack of energy to carry out daily activities, etc.
This disorder usually affects women more than men, and has a prevalence of 1 in 10 people. The duration is usually a few days.
What we know as “spring depression” It is a mild and temporary disorder that manifests itself in our body when we suffer difficulties adapting to seasonal changes. In these cases it is important to see that the symptoms that the person manifests are due to some organic cause, and it must also be taken into account that their duration is brief and transitory.
Why is the brain altered during the change of season?
It is a neurochemical process: Spring favors an alteration in the secretion of neurotransmitters and hormones due to increased light and temperature.
An increase in sexual desire also occurs when oxytocin (the “love hormone”), dopamine (a neurotransmitter related to pleasure) and serotonin (which is involved in mood) are released.
Due to all these changes that occur in our brain, people can respond differently to their environment and produce changes both emotionally and behaviorally
Tips to counteract possible emotional imbalance
Psychologist Pilar Cortés makes some recommendations to better cope with these symptoms:
1. Practice some physical activity regularly
One has to practice moderate and regular exercise to increase the production of endorphins Carry out pleasant activities to overcome demotivation and raise the mood that this change in weather may cause.
2. Establish a sleeping and eating routine
It is important to follow fixed schedules regarding rest so that the body regains balance. Sleeping 7 to 8 hours a day helps the body better adapt to change
Regarding diet, it is important to eat foods with high energy content, such as carbohydrates, since these can help combat the symptoms of spring asthenia.
3. Outdoor activities
It is important to carry out outdoor activities and be in closed spaces as little as possible.
4. Promote social relationships and meetings with family members
Although the symptoms of spring asthenia are temporary, It is recommended that the person surround themselves with people who support them to feel that you are not alone in the process.
5. Be patient
Spring asthenia is temporary; Therefore, even if the symptoms are very annoying and negatively affect your mood, you must be patient and forgiving. These symptoms will end up passing in a few days as the body adapts to the new situation
If children are affected by asthenia, it must be taken into account that they may have more tantrums and crying for a few days, but these will end after the adjustment period of a few days.
6. Do pleasant activities
Spring asthenia generates low motivation in general. Therefore it is appropriate to try overcome the feeling of tiredness and lack of energy to do activities that are pleasurable.
7. Do not self-medicate
If the person is properly fed, they do not need nutritional supplements to overcome spring asthenia; That’s why it’s important eat foods rich in tryptophan
8. Have a positive attitude
Being positive and having a positive attitude generates more positivity, which helps counteract the effects of spring fatigue. If we downplay the situation, the person’s condition caused by spring abstinence will be overcome sooner and the person’s condition will improve.
