Spring Tiredness.

Sometimes called Spring Fever, it is a somewhat strange syndrome, but it does exist. I am feeling a slight onset of it these days. Despite the fact that the light is increasing visibly each passing day, I do not feel energized.
At least not just yet.

Spring Tiredness has not been officially categorized as a illness, however it is very much a subject of discussions here in the North. Very obvious in latitudes where the length of the days and nights varies extensively throughout the year, the Scandinavians are well familiar with this phenomenon initiated by a change in the seasons. With an onset in March, we feel very tired and almost exhausted, moody and irritated. Uninterested and at time even slightly depressed.

The cause to spring tiredness is not completely clear, however hormones might play a role. During winter, when the days are short and nights long, the sleep hormone, melatonin is in charge. As soon as the daylight increases, melatonin levels drop and a new hormone, so called "happy hormone" starts to be produced; serotonine. While the battle between the hormones is ongoing, we feel exhausted. But as soon as serotonine levels stabilizes, so does our mood.

To me it seems that as soon as March ends, so does the fever. As soon as the first true spring day arrives, when we reach the spring equinox and when the snow traces are all gone and when the daffodils display their yellow flowers, my energy will return with the victory of my serotonine.