Winter blues or seasonal depression?
It’s cold, gray, and the holiday lights no longer burn bright.
Welcome to January. We know you had intentions to make this your healthiest year yet, but binge watching your favorite streaming show on the sofa sounds so much better than walking on a treadmill. We get it. It’s called the “winter blues,” and you’re not the only one dealing with it.
The winter blues is a common term used to describe feeling down or stuck in a slump during the colder months – often due to factors like a lack of sunlight or missing the family you saw – or didn’t see – during the holidays.
However, there is a real behavioral health condition called seasonal affective disorder, which the experts explain is major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern. Mental health experts diagnose it when symptoms of prolonged sadness, anxiety, hopelessness and fatigue last for several weeks or longer.
University Health psychologist, Jennifer Keller, PsyD, was recently a guest on the Fox 4 podcast, The Wellness Hour. Dr. Keller explained that while the depression can be triggered by changes in any season, it’s more likely to happen as we head into winter, when reduced sunlight impacts the hormones we rely on to regulate our mood.
Treatments for seasonal affective disorder may include cognitive behavioral therapy, medication and light therapy. Light therapy involves using a light box that emits bright, white light for 20-30 minutes a day. If you’re considering light therapy, talk to your doctor about whether it’s right for you and ask for recommendations on choosing a light box.