The expert spoke about the differences between seasonal melancholy and clinical depression.

With the shortening of daylight hours, many people experience the so—called seasonal blues - a temporary decrease in mood, fatigue and unwillingness to leave the house. It is extremely important to distinguish melancholy from clinical depression, since the consequences for a person are completely different. This was announced on November 30 by psychologist NLP coach Daria Sukhanova. "Газете.Ru ".

"Imagine seasonal melancholy as a temporary cloud passing over the sun. It can cover the sky for days or weeks, making the world a little grayer, but the rays are still making their way through it. You can enjoy a cup of fragrant tea, hugs from your loved ones, and an exciting movie," Sukhanova explained.

According to her, depression is a much more serious condition. It affects all areas of human life, affects sleep, appetite, concentration and physical condition, causing a feeling of emptiness and chronic fatigue. Unlike the blues, clinical depression does not go away on its own and requires professional diagnosis and treatment.

The expert notes that if a slight sadness and apathy disappear after a walk, socializing with friends or pleasant activities, it is melancholy. If no joyful events bring relief and the condition interferes with daily life for two weeks or more, it is necessary to consult a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.

The psychologist stressed that it is important not to be shy about seeking help, because depression is a disease, not a weakness of a person.

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Earlier, on November 17, Elena Shpagina, Candidate of Psychological Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Institute of Management Technologies of RTU MIREA, said that the phenomenon of "autumn scrolling" is the result of a combination of several powerful psychological mechanisms. According to her, November in central Russia is a time when a natural shortage of sunlight and a reduction in daylight objectively affect the psychophysiological state, which can provoke the so—called seasonal blues, or a subclinical form of seasonal affective disorder.

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