What is winter depression?
Now that it is getting darker, many people are starting to notice winter depression, which is a type of seasonal depression. Some people also develop something called spring depression, but the most common type is the type associated with winter.
Some of the symptoms of winter depression are fatigue that does not go away, difficulty sleeping, depression and anxiety, and a craving for sugar, which causes many people to gain weight during the winter – not just because of Christmas food. Although there’s no clear cause for some people to have this type of depression, it may have something to do with lack of daylight.
If you suffer from winter depression, you can get antidepressant medication from your doctor, or undergo cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to learn how to deal with it better. In some cases, it’s also advisable to get a phototherapy lamp, which mimics natural sunlight and can trick the brain into thinking it’s summer. It takes a lot too Vitamin D Dietary supplement to meet this need during the winter months.
Other ways to alleviate depression can be to exercise regularly until the brain releases endorphins, try to sit near windows and have open spaces around it to increase the feeling of space and light, and to avoid stressful situations as much as possible.
Depression and the endocannabinoid system
A newer way to relieve depression that more and more researchers are starting to look at is how the endocannabinoid system in our body can affect our mood. Depression rarely occurs on its own, but it is often accompanied by anxiety and stress. It is already known that the endocannabinoid system, which can be imagined as a substitute for the nervous or circulatory system, plays a role in how we deal with both stress and anxiety. When activated, it can reduce the activity of neurons in the amygdala, making us feel calm and relaxed.
People who suffer from depression are also thought to be deficient in dopamine and serotonin, two hormones that act as neurotransmitters in the brain, and are related to mood and feelings of happiness. Researchers believe that when the receptors that receive these signals are depleted, it can lead to depression. By activating the endocannabinoid system, these receptors are also activated, and you can restore a sense of balance and mental harmony.
And what activates the endocannabinoid system? Well, it’s the hemp plant CBD.
Even if the body itself produces a small amount of hemp, this is not always enough, after which you can get more through supplementation from plants. Existing hemp, for example, hemp, nettle or hops, is very similar to that found in mammals, and can stimulate the endocannabinoid system just like the cannabinoids that we ourselves produce.
Scientific studies have been conducted in recent years to find out the relationship between CBD and reducing stress and anxiety. The results have proven promising, but more research is still needed before anything can be said for sure.
More Stories
The contribution of virtual reality to research in medicine and health
The sun could hit the Internet on Earth
In memory of Jens Jørgen Jørgensen