Everyone’s relationship with the changing of the seasons is unique. Maybe you’re the type who lives for those crisp autumn mornings, or perhaps you count down the days until summer’s warm embrace returns. But there’s something that happens to many of us when winter approaches, and it’s a shift that goes beyond just missing the sunshine. For lots of folks, this time of year brings seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Here’s what this really means for you and your daily life.
What Actually Happens During Seasonal Depression?
When seasonal affective disorder hits, your brain chemistry actually changes with the seasons. Your internal clock is getting thrown off balance with shorter days and longer nights messing with your body’s natural rhythm. Your brain might produce less serotonin (that feel-good chemical that helps keep your mood steady) and more metalin (the sleepy-time hormone that makes you want to hibernate like a bear).
This isn’t just about feeling a little down — it’s a form of major depressive disorder that follows a seasonal pattern, and it affects millions of people each year. The good news? Once you know what’s happening, you can take steps to feel better.
Common Signs Your Body’s Telling You Something’s Up
When the seasons change, your body sometimes sends out distress signals. Here’s what these seasonal depression symptoms look like in real life: Picture yourself sitting at your desk one afternoon in late fall, realizing you’ve been staring at the same email for 20 minutes. You’re excited about it, and you want to get started, but you’re just stuck in a rut where all you want to do is shut the laptop and head to bed. Or imagine you’re trying to hit the gym on your daily schedule, but getting out of bed and getting dressed just feels a lot more challenging.
It’s easy to feel like these are isolated moments, and sometimes they are! But other times, they are reflective of something more serious. Pay attention to these signs, and you’ll have a better idea of whether seasonal affective disorder is affecting you.
Physical Symptoms
- Feeling exhausted no matter how much you sleep.
- Craving carbs and comfort foods more than usual.
- Having trouble getting out of bed in the morning.
- Changes in appetite and weight.
Emotional Symptoms
- Finding it hard to focus or make decisions.
- Feeling down most of the day, nearly every day.
- Losing interest in activities you usually enjoy.
- Feeling hopeless or worthless.
Social Symptoms
- Withdrawing from friends and family.
- Avoiding social situations.
- Finding it hard to maintain relationships.
- Feeling irritable in social settings.
Light Therapy and Other Science-Backed Solutions
Did you know that something as simple as special lighting can help with SAD symptoms? Light therapy boxes mimic natural sunlight and can help reset your body’s clock. But that’s not the only tool in our toolkit. Talk therapy can be super helpful, especially when you’re experiencing seasonal affective disorder. Sometimes, just talking through these feelings with a mental health professional can make a huge difference in how you cope with the winter blues.
Getting Active and Using Movement as Medicine
When seasonal depression hits, the last thing you might want to do is exercise. But moving your body, even just a little bit, can work wonders for those depressive symptoms. You don’t have to even run a marathon. Just a 10-minute walk or some gentle stretching can help kick-start those feel-good brain chemicals.
Try breaking it down into small, manageable chunks. Maybe start with a quick walk around the block during your lunch break when the sun is at its brightest. Or how about some indoor yoga when it’s too cold outside?
Creating a Winter Wellness Routine
This can be your personal playbook for tackling seasonal affective disorder. Start by setting up a cozy corner in your home where you can soak up natural light during the day. Add some mood-boosting activities like reading, crafting, or calling a friend. Remember those times when mental disorders feel overwhelming? That’s when having a routine really helps. Try keeping regular sleep patterns or schedules, eating at consistent times, and planning activities that bring you joy, even if you don’t feel like doing them at first.
Seasonal Depression and Your Overall Health Picture
Here’s where we at Nirvana Healthcare Network come in. Living with seasonal depression isn’t something you have to figure out alone. We offer comprehensive support, including monitoring your neurological health and providing remote patient monitoring services to keep tabs on how you’re doing throughout the season.
Whether you’re dealing with bipolar disorder that gets worse in winter or experiencing your first bout of seasonal affective disorder symptoms, we’re here to help you build a plan that works for you. Our team can connect you with the right resources, from light therapy to mental health support, all designed to help you take back control of how you feel — no matter what season it is.
