Photologue @theuostimes7
Do you get sentimental in autumn? In Korea, there is a term, “Ga-eoul tan da.” You might think that this is just because of the change of weather and will get better. However, this is actually a kind of disorder, called “seasonal affective disorder (SAD).”
SAD is caused by the deficiency of sunlight. When the summer starts to turn into fall, the amount of sunlight decreases. This lack of sunlight makes the secretion of “melatonin” – a kind of neurotransmitter – less and breaks the biorhythms. This also causes the weakness of the immune system, and that is why people get cold easily during the change of seasons.
SAD causes lethargy and melancholy like normal depression. However, it also causes other symptoms such as hypersomnia and hyperpyrexia. To prevent or ease these symptoms, it is helpful to enjoy daytime activities and eat regularly. Increasing the length of daytime makes the human body active, so it also prevents hypersomnia.
For university students, SAD can be fatal since the change of seasons coincides with the beginning of semester. Students might ignore the symptoms because of the crowded schedule for lectures, club activities, etc. If those symptoms are left unattended, it can lead to serious depression. Every beginning is hectic, but it would be better for your mental health to go out in the sun for 5 minutes.