# Shorter days affect the mood of millions of Americans – a nutritional neuroscientist offers tips on how to avoid the winter blues

- Link: https://www.widthness.com/shorter-days-affect-the-mood-of-millions-of-americans-a-nutritional-neuroscientist-offers-tips-on-how-to-avoid-the-winter-blues/
- Published: 2022-12-09T10:00:27-06:00
- Author: Curated by John Wysocki

Photo caption: For those prone to seasonal affective disorder, a shift in the sleep cycle can impact energy levels. Photo credit: Ben Akiba (Collection: E+) via Getty Images. Article by Lina Begdache. The Conversation &#8211; December 5, 2022.  The annual pattern of winter depression and melancholy – better known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD – suggests a strong link between your mood and the amount of light you get during the day. To put it simply: The less light exposure one has, the more one’s mood may decline. Wintertime blues are common, but about 10 million Americans are affected every year by a longer lasting depression called seasonal affective disorder. Along with low mood, symptoms include anxious feelings, low self-esteem, longer sleep duration, constant craving for carbohydrates and low physical activity levels. [&#8230;] Click here to view original web page at theconversation.com
