KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s spring! Bright flowers spring up from the dirt, and trees are in bloom.
“This time of year, it’s spring time, you know, everything is starting to sprout up. People are getting ready for the summer,” said Aundra Small.
This spring’s been a roller coaster, however.
“Heat on, to heat off, you know,” Small described.
The unpredictable weather is starting to affect spring plans.
“We were supposed to go to the Royals game, and we didn’t go because it got cold,” said Candice Davies. “I don’t get it. I’m frustrated, I’m mad, I’m angry, I’m ready for the warm weather.”
Dr. Jennifer Lundgren, the head of UMKC’s Psychology Department, says those feelings are common.
“I think definitely people get a little more irritable,” Lundgren explained.
She says it’s the winter blues, and for those with depression or bipolar disorder, it could be seasonal affective disorder.
“People who get the seasonal specifier they will be more tired in the winter, they will sleep longer, they will gain weight and have more carbohydrate cravings,” Lundgren said.
A high powered light could help reset someone’s circadian rythm, and shake them out of depression, but there’s hope in the forecast, in the form of real sunshine and sunnier outlooks.
The high-powered light is available almost anywhere, but Jennifer Lundgren recommends people consult a doctor before they use one.
To find out more about seasonal affective disorder, click here.
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