3 Things That Help With My Seasonal Depression

I used to really, REALLY dread winters because I could always anticipate SAD (seasonal affective disorder) hindering my life in a really meaningful way.

If you’re not familiar, SAD is a mood disorder that happens every year for people who live in places where there is less sunlight during certain seasons, and symptoms can include fatigue, depression, and withdrawal.

I’m thankful that I’m in a place now where SAD doesn’t affect me much anymore, and it’s because I’ve cultivated habits and routines that I can pull out every winter that are guaranteed to help me. I’ve even started to actually look forward to the colder months now! That’s something I never thought I’d say.

1️⃣ Use artificial light to my advantage - Lack of light was the main thing that would get me down during the winter. The shorter days made me feel so claustrophobic, and there was no way of escaping it except by moving to another state (which I wasn’t going to do!) Winter can be a great time to set up dainty fairy lights or LED lights if you don’t already have them. Lights, lamps, and candles can be a fun way to express yourself and to turn a space more your own. My sunrise lamp has also really helped me in the mornings when it’s still dark outside.

2️⃣ Enjoying indoor activities - I now have a whole list of fun indoor activities that I can refer to whenever I feel tempted to isolate at home and wallow! What’s great is that now I have a bunch of activities that I can look forward to in the winter, and I can invite friends to do these things with me so that I’m not withdrawing.

3️⃣ Talk to someone about how I’m feeling - Lots of people are affected by SAD each year (about 5% of adults in the US according to the American Psychiatric Association). Talking to people who go through the same struggle can help you come up with ideas to overcome it. It’s also important to talk to a doctor or mental health professional if it’s really becoming too overwhelming and taking a toll on your life.

Are you affected by SAD? What has helped you get through it each year?

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