An Article by Sara Taveira / Photograph by Fernando Cabral

Are You Feeling Down in the Winter and Need Seasonal Depression Therapy?

As the seasons change, a lot of us start to feel different. The phrase “winter blues” is widely used for a good reason. This time of year, it’s normal to feel sad, tired, and low on energy. These are signs of seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The cold, cloudy, and rainy days ahead may make even the most positive person a little less motivated. This article focuses on seasonal depression therapy.

What Makes People Depressed in the Winter?

Researchers are still looking into all of the possible causes of seasonal depression.

Lack of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is important for keeping your immune system strong, your mood stable, and your energy levels high. A lot of us get up before the sun comes up and go home after it goes down in the winter. We don’t get enough natural sunlight because we spend most of the day inside. Our bodies need sunlight to make vitamin D. Not getting enough vitamin D can make us feel tired and sad.

The Hibernation Effect

Some research has shown that mammals naturally slow down in the winter. This is what hibernation is. We can’t hibernate like animals do, but we do go through a milder version of this slowdown, which might explain why we feel sluggish and less motivated in the winter.

Hormones, Light, and Circadian Rhythms

All work together to keep our bodies in sync with daylight. Light controls hormones like serotonin, which affects mood, hunger, and how we act around other people, and melatonin, which tells us when to sleep. Melatonin levels go up when the nights are longer in the winter. This makes us feel more tired and sleepy. Less sunlight, on the other hand, lowers serotonin levels, which can make us feel sad or depressed. This biological dance can help explain why many people are less happy and more irritable during the darker months.
If you want to feel better and get more vitamin D, try to plan a trip to a sunny place.

What Happens If These Methods Don’t Work?

The winter blues are not the only sign of seasonal depression. They can make your daily life very difficult or cause a lot of stress if you have symptoms like sadness, social withdrawal, tiredness, irritability, or loneliness.
If this sounds like you, it’s very important to get help. Seasonal depression is a real mental illness that can be treated. Please get in touch with us so we can look at your situation, help you and help you get over the winter blues.

To Raise Your Mood and Vitamin D Levels

• Try to plan a trip to a sunny place.
• Try supplementing your diet with added Vitamin D
• Melatonin supplements can also help

What if These Tips Don’t Help?

Seasonal depression can show up in more ways than just the winter blues. Sadness, withdrawal from social situations, tiredness, irritability, or loneliness can make your life very hard or give you a lot of stress.
If this sounds like you, it’s important to get help. Seasonal depression is a real mental illness that can be helped. Call us so we can review your situation, offer support, and help you get through the winter blues.

Contact Sara

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