How To Combat Seasonal Depression

Seasonal Affective Disorder (otherwise known as SAD, ironic huh?) has been slowly creeping up on me the past couple of days. Ever since Daylight Savings, the days have been getting dark around 5 pm and my motivation has been dwindling.

As the name suggests, Seasonal Affective Disorder is defined as “a mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year”. For most people, it occurs around the winter, as the days get shorter, darker, and colder.

It’s not commonly talked about because I think people don’t realize they have it. They believe it’s just “the winter blues” or that everyone else gets moody around this time.

Yet, it’s more serious than you think. For me personally, I’ve experienced SAD for the past 5+ years on top of already having depressive episodes year-round. It’s like getting a double dose of depression.

So, how does one combat something that they can’t quite control? It’s not like you can ask the sun to stay out longer or pack everything up and move to Florida.

Here are a few tips I’ve collected over the past couple of years to help manage Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Get as Much Sunlight as Possible

Those of us affected by SAD are typically more sensitive to our external environments. When it starts to get dark and cold, we begin to feel dark and cold. The best way to combat this is to spend as much time as possible outside during the daylight, soaking in the sunrays and getting some vitamin D. If it’s too cold for outdoor activities, keep your blinds open and sit near the window.

You can also invest in a light therapy lamp made specifically for people with SAD. They emit a certain type and amount of light that can help raise your mood when the days begin to get dark earlier. (Find them on Amazon!)

Avoid Your Bed

Depression’s best friend is a warm, cozy bed where you can spend the entire day avoiding any real responsibilities. As tempting as it may seem, crawling into your bed will only prevent you from getting work done and can lead to hours of binge-watching Netflix (and not in a good way). Try to move yourself to a more stimulating environment, preferably one with people nearby, to motivate yourself to be productive or socialize with others.

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Eat Nutritious Foods

We all know that depression loves to snack (or at least mine does). Every edible item that crosses my path seems too tempting to resist, so I end up eating around the clock on mostly non-nutritious foods. This only ends up making me feel even more tired and sluggish – not to mention extremely guilty. Make a conscious effort to surround yourself with healthier options in order to get the benefits from natural foods like fruits and vegetables, as well as avoid anything that might leave you feeling worse in the end.

Get Active

Ugh. I know. Exercising while feeling down sounds like the last thing you want to do. However, it is scientifically proven that exercising releases “happy” chemicals in your brain that will inevitably make you feel better and even reduce anxiety. Not to mention, you probably haven’t left your bed in a few good hours (or days?) and your body could probably use a bit of moving and shaking.

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Talk To Someone You Trust

You should never have to go through depression alone. Find someone that you can talk to about it, or even just have a friendly conversation with to get your mind off things. Personally, I always call my mom whenever I’m feeling down and she always knows what to say to comfort me. Simply hanging out with friends can help you forget about the sadness, even if it’s just for a while. Don’t be afraid to open up to people – if they’re truly your friend, they’ll be understanding and supportive.

Look At Pictures of Dogs

Always makes me feel better ◡̈

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Remember, you’re not the only one that goes through Seasonal Depression so there’s no need to combat it alone. Always feel free to reach out to me on social media or chat with other people in the comments! I wish you the best of luck.

Lots of love,