Seasonal Depression

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We’re approaching the time of year when the days are getting shorter, the temperature is dropping and it may feel like your mental and emotional state is shifting as well. 

If you tend to experience a change in mood along with the seasonal transitions, you’re not alone. Many folks experience Seasonal Affective Disorder or Seasonal Depression beginning around this time of year and well into the winter season. 

Symptoms of seasonal depression are very similar to symptoms of Major Depression, but instead follow a more seasonal pattern with the change from the warm and brighter to cool and darker months. Your motivation to get through the day can decrease, along with a generally lower mood and increased desire to self-isolate. You may have an increased appetite with a particular affinity for more carb-rich or sugary foods, and find yourself wanting to sleep more as well. It is unsurprising also to have increased difficulty with focusing, and you may have less interest in activities you usually enjoy.

The good news is you can prepare for this transition before it takes place. The end of the summer season is a good time to get blood work done and see what levels you may be deficient in, especially with Vitamin D. It is easier in the summer months to get more Vitamin D because of more time in the sun, but proactive measures are key with winter. Many health professionals recommend starting a Vitamin D supplement as majority of Americans are chronically Vitamin D deficient. But to have the most accurate idea of where you stand, get your levels checked, particularly when it comes to Vitamin D, Iron, B12, Folate, and your Thyroid. It can make all the difference.

Help your body adjust to the transition with a sun lamp, which can mitigate the seemingly drastic shift in daytime hours. As much as you may want to be alone, community can go a long way as the seasons change. Stay connected to friends and loved ones who you trust and provide a safe space so you can all support each other. Now is as good a time as any, especially if you’ve been considering it, to establish connection with a counselor or therapist who can help with the change. And remind yourself that despite its difficulty, the change in seasons is part of a larger shift as nature enters a period of hibernation and preparation for the new year. Instead of fighting it, try to embrace it by finding beauty in the fall and winter seasons, as this approach can help with acceptance and looking forward to the future.