7 Tips for Dealing With Seasonal Depression

by BetterLYF Wellness Online Counselling Psychologist

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a kind of depressive disorder brought on by the changing seasons, majorly due to the lack of sunlight. Most people feel overwhelmed all the time, lack energy and lose interest in usual activities. People struggling with the seasonal affective disorder may not understand what's going on with them and how to cope with it.

As winter progresses, the condition may worsen for such people. Sometimes depression caused by the season may self-resolve as the spring arrives but sometimes it may stay minimal during the summer months too. It is also important to understand that seasonal depression or winter blues is a lesser form of SAD.

However, the exact reason and causes may be unknown for seasonal affective disorder, but symptoms are commonly noticed as:

Depression occurs in a seasonal pattern
Lack of interest is noticed earlier enjoyed activities
Major changes in body weight and appetite
Lack of energy and feeling tired constantly
Insomnia or excessive sleeping

Ignoring the symptoms of the seasonal affective disorder for a long time can result in chronic mental health problems. Fortunately, once diagnosed it can be treated with several therapeutic approaches by a trained therapist that has expertise in dealing with seasonal depression. Here are some self-help tips to recognize, prevent, and ease SAD symptoms.

Consider the following 10 tips on how to cope with seasonal depression.

1. Talk to a Mental Health Expert

If you notice any of the above symptoms with sadness for a long time you may be suffering from the seasonal affective disorder. In such a situation talking to a mental health expert or even an online counselling psychologist can be a huge help. A skilled therapist can teach you to overcome and ease the symptoms of SAD. Talk therapy and CBT(cognitive-behavioural therapy) are majorly used therapies and both are very effective in treating SAD, with a high rate of success.

2. Drink Plenty of Water

Water is essential for every cell in the body, so it is very important to drink enough water to keep you hydrated. Staying hydrated during the months when the weather has you down can help keep your moods good.

3. Get a Good Dose of Sunshine Daily

Natural sunlight helps you fight seasonal depression, so get outside in the sun regularly as sunlight is the best source of vitamin D. Deficiency of vitamin D deficiency is also linked to depression, particularly in the winter months. If you are diagnosed with vitamin d deficiencies consider taking vitamin D supplements it will help in improving your mood in their depression symptoms. But make sure to consult with a doctor before trying out any supplement.

4. Stay Connected with Friends

There’s a direct connection between loneliness and depression. This is why it is important to stay connected with friends if you want to fight seasonal affective disorder. Stay connected with your friends through calls and video calls if you are staying in different locations and cities, especially during the winters.

5. Manage Your Time

If you are in a 9 hours job, no matter how busy you are, take tiny breaks to relax and enough sleep at night. Wake up early in the morning, and take a walk in the fresh morning air. Managing your to eat, sleep, work and relax can do wonders for your mood.

6. Exercise Daily

Exercising daily or even alternate days can effectively help in fighting depression. Being active with a little exercise and working out during the cold months of the year will help your body release endorphins also known as happy hormones. Exercising also keeps your immune system strong, helps digestion, and prevents and alleviates depression.

7. Journaling

Maintaining a journal about how you are feeling in the moment and your thoughts and goals will help make them concrete.

It is a good way to just stay in touch with your inner feelings, and track your moods and can also help in identifying patterns that are causing bad moods.

Self-tips can help you if you want to learn how to deal with and alleviate depression and loneliness in the winter months. But if you have the seasonal affective disorder, you don’t have to suffer in silence as the help is just a click away. Online Depression counselling allows you to talk to a mental health counsellor or therapist anonymously from the comfort of your home.