Have you ever noticed that in winter, the world you see is darker and less colorful than in summer? This may not be your illusion, but your mood affecting your vision. Scientists have discovered that winter depression is a condition that makes you blind to color, changing your visual perception and making the world appear gray.
What is winter depression?
Winter depression is a special type of depression that only occurs in winter and disappears in other seasons. People suffering from winter depression may experience symptoms such as sadness, powerlessness, loneliness, anxiety, loss of interest, and difficulty sleeping during the winter. The cause of winter depression is not entirely clear, but one theory is that it has something to do with the lack of sunlight in winter. Because sunlight can cause our bodies to produce a hormone called ‘melatonin’, this hormone can regulate our biological clock and allow us to maintain normal sleep and mood. If there is less sunlight, there will be too much melatonin, our biological clocks will be thrown off, and our mood will drop.
Will winter depression affect vision?
Scientists conducted an experiment to test whether winter depression affects vision. They had some people watch happy or sad videos to induce different emotions in them. Then, they showed these people some pictures of different colors and brightness and asked them to tell the color and brightness of the picture. Scientists have found that people who watch sad videos feel that the color of the picture is darker than the actual color, while people who watch the happy video feel that the color of the picture is more accurate and brighter. This shows that the emotion of sadness changes people’s visual perception and makes people unable to see colors.
What to do about winter depression?
Winter depression is a serious condition that not only affects you mentally but also visually. If you feel you have symptoms of winter depression, you should seek professional help in time, such as seeing a psychiatrist or participating in psychological counseling. In addition, there are some things you can do to improve your mood and vision, such as:
- Get more exposure to sunlight. You can try to go out during the day, or open windows at home to let in the sun. You can also use a method called ’light therapy,’ which uses a special lamp that simulates natural light to allow your body to produce enough melatonin.
- exercise more. Exercise causes your body to release substances called endorphins, which can make you feel happy and comfortable. You can choose some sports you like, such as running, swimming, playing ball, etc., and insist on exercising for more than half an hour every day.
-Be more social. Socializing can make you feel warm and supported and can reduce your loneliness and anxiety. You can chat more with your family, friends, classmates or colleagues, or join some clubs, interest groups, volunteer activities, etc. to make some new friends. - Appreciate more colors. Color can bring you beauty and pleasure, and can improve your visual sensitivity. You can look at more colorful paintings, photos, movies, books, etc., or create some colorful works yourself, such as painting, taking photos, knitting, etc.
Winter depression is a disease that makes you unable to see colors, but don’t be afraid. You are not alone. You can improve your mood and vision through some methods and make your world full of color again.
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