Feeling Low This Rainy Season? It Could Be Monsoon Depression—Here’s How to Spot and Stop It
Feeling Low This Rainy Season? It Could Be Monsoon Depression—Here’s How to Spot and Stop It
While many enjoy the sound of rainfall and the break from summer heat, the monsoon season can also bring feelings of sadness, low energy, and mood changes for some people. This condition is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Though it’s often linked with winter, experts say it can also affect people during the rainy season.
According to mental health professionals, SAD is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. It tends to appear and fade around the same time every year. In monsoon season, long stretches of cloudy weather and limited sunlight can disturb a person’s natural body clock, or circadian rhythm. This can lead to emotional changes and even physical discomfort like headaches, body pain, or digestive problems.
Why Does It Happen in Monsoon?
Medical experts explain that the lack of sunlight during heavy rains can reduce the body’s production of serotonin, a chemical that helps control mood, and melatonin, which affects sleep. This can cause people to feel unusually tired, frustrated, and even hopeless. The risk is higher in people with a family history of depression, low vitamin D levels, or existing mental health issues.
The constant rains and grey skies also tend to interrupt daily routines. Outdoor activities, exercise, and social interactions often get limited, leading to more isolation and less movement—two things that play a major role in keeping the mind healthy. In some cases, those who’ve experienced trauma related to natural disasters like floods may find the rainy season even more distressing.
When to Seek Help
Experts suggest that SAD during monsoon should not be ignored, especially if symptoms like sadness, low energy, poor sleep, and loss of interest in usual activities continue for more than two weeks. Early signs can also include difficulty concentrating, changes in eating habits, and withdrawing from social contact.
How to Manage Monsoon Sadness
To manage monsoon sadness, health professionals recommend a few simple changes. First, staying physically active, even with indoor workouts or simple chores, can help lift the mood. Second, spending time near natural light or under bright indoor lights may improve symptoms. Eating balanced meals and avoiding junk food is another important step, as unhealthy eating habits can make mood swings worse. Lastly, calming practices like yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises can help reduce stress and improve sleep.
If symptoms get worse or don’t go away, it’s important to seek help from a doctor or mental health expert. With the right support and habits, monsoon sadness can be managed and even prevented.
