{
  "id": 17243692,
  "title": "Is it really just the autumn blues?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/is-it-really-just-the-autumn-blues",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T15:27:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/health/20261031/is-it-really-just-the-autumn-blues"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A friend recently confided to me during a phone call that the fall season seems to be affecting them. Middle-aged individuals may be particularly susceptible to what has been dubbed the \"autumn blues.\" One such individual shared how the darkening sky on his commute home drains his energy and leaves him feeling lethargic even after a weekend of sleep. His habit of reaching for bread and snacks after dinner also seemed to be a recurring pattern. The Korean expression \"gaeul tada,\" meaning \"to be affected by autumn,\" carries a romantic tone, but persistent sadness, loss of interest in once-enjoyed activities, and lethargy are far from romantic autumn melancholy. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), as defined by the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, is a type of depression characterized by these symptoms.",
  "summary": "\"I think the fall is getting to me.\" That's what a friend told me on the phone recently. \"You're middle-aged now, and suddenly you're getting the autumn blues?\" I said jokingly. He laughed awkwardly, then began telling me about his life lately. Seeing the darkening sky on his way home from work drains his energy. Once home, he lies on the couch and does nothing. Even after sleeping in on…",
  "key_points": [
    "\"Autumn blues\" affects middle-aged individuals.",
    "Symptoms include lethargy and loss of interest.",
    "Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) causes these feelings."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}