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You may notice it every year.…just as fall turns to winter and the days become shorter, you suddenly notice your mood and motivation change. You may find yourself craving starches and wanting nothing more than to stay in bed for days at a time watching endless reruns of “Law & Order.”

Do you look on Facebook and often become envious of experiences others have posted about? Do you hesitate to make plans to keep your options open in case a more exciting invitation comes along? Do you constantly check your email or text in the middle of interactions with your family or friends?

The amygdala is a collection of nuclei near the base of the brain – the limbic system - where emotions are given meaning, remembered, and attached to associations, as well as responses to them (emotional memories). The amygdala is also known for its role in the processing of fear. In infants, a distress cry helps signal to caretakers to come “save” them. It toddlers, this same response may show up, or they may attempt to “flee” the danger by crawling away. Later in life, a “fight” back response might show up in anger or conflict.