There are plenty of seasonal activities to look forward to when winter arrives: ice skating, snowball fights, sledding, and building snowmen are just a few. There are also seasonal flavors and treats that become available such as gingerbread, peppermint, and eggnog. Decorations in homes and public spaces start to use words like holly, jolly, merry, and bright. We even call it the happiest time of the year.
Unfortunately, not everyone experiences perfect happiness throughout winter. We may associate this time of year with many cheerful things, but the season can also bring depression. Read on to learn more about the signs and symptoms of seasonal depression.
Low Mood
Also a feature of other forms of depression, this may be the most straightforward symptom of seasonal depression. Feeling down, sad, hopeless, or worthless can indicate that someone is struggling with seasonal depression. A person experiencing seasonal depression will have a hard time shaking these feelings or experiencing other emotions.
Changes in Sleeping Habits
Sleep is essential for rest and recovery. It allows the body and brain to perform to the best of their abilities. Experts recommend getting between seven and nine hours of sleep each night to best support your health.
Suffering from seasonal depression can cause changes in a person's sleep schedule and routine. Someone struggling with seasonal depression might have a much harder time falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night, or they might have a challenging time doing anything other than sleeping. Too little sleep or too much sleep isn't ideal for anyone.
Changes in Eating Habits
In addition to changes in sleeping habits, changes in eating habits are something to look out for. Taking care of yourself, especially in times of stress, is extremely important. Fueling your body properly with a well-balanced mix of proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates is a great way to make your body feel good from the inside out.
Unfortunately, when seasonal depression takes over, a person may feel so low on energy and fatigued that they will forget to eat or not have the energy to eat. Seasonal depression can also cause overeating, especially with foods that are high in sugar or carbohydrates. These changes in eating habits can also lead to extreme weight loss or weight gain, which can have serious health consequences.
Isolation and Withdrawal
To some extent, it's normal to want to relax, bundle up, and stay warm in the comfort of your own home during this time of year. People with seasonal depression, however, can take this to an extreme level.
Someone struggling with seasonal depression might start to slowly remove themselves from get-togethers or hangouts. They may start to feel like the signs and symptoms that they're experiencing are a burden to others or that their loved ones won't understand. This can cause them to isolate or withdraw from their own friend groups and keep to themselves.
Loss of Interest
A person with seasonal depression will likely experience a loss of interest in things that they enjoyed before depression took over. They can also experience changes in skills that might impact other areas of their life such as their career. For example, they may struggle with paying attention, concentrating, or being able to make decisions. All of these changes can also cause a person struggling with seasonal depression to withdraw and keep to themselves.
Therapy Can Help
If any of these signs or symptoms are hitting a little too close to home, it's important to seek additional support as soon as you can. Seasonal depression is a serious but treatable mental health condition. Reach out today to learn more about how depression therapy can help you if you're struggling with seasonal depression.