Don’t Let Seasonal Depression Go Unnoticed
“And it sure been a cold, cold winter
And the wind ain’t been blowing from the south……It sure been a hard, hard winter
My feet been draggin’ ‘cross the ground”Winter, The Rolling Stones
The Stones very well could have been singing about seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that the National Institute of Mental Health estimates affects millions of Americans.
It is not known what causes SAD, but experts believe reduced sunlight in fall and winter may disrupt our body clocks and our levels of important brain chemicals, leading to feelings of depression.
Symptoms, which you should not take lightly, may be mild at first and become more severe as winter drags on. If you experience any of these symptoms, reach out to your Primary Care Provider or Behavioral Health.
- Having little energy / feeling sluggish
- Loss of pleasure in activities you normally enjoy
- Sleeping too much
- Craving carbohydrates, overeating, gaining weight
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Feeling grouchy or anxious
- Feeling hopeless
Your health care provider may prescribe light therapy, talk therapy or antidepressants, perhaps all three. They also may encourage you to: trust that negative thoughts will go away as you respond to treatment; eat healthfully and get regular exercise; let family and friends help you.
If left untreated, SAD can lead to:
- Problems at work or school
- Other mental health disorders
- Substance abuse
- Suicidal thoughts
It is important to know that you may be more susceptible to SAD if you have blood relatives with the disorder or other forms of depression. If you have depression or bipolar disorder, SAD can make your symptoms worse.
There is no known way to prevent seasonal affective disorder but getting help early can help you avoid serious depression or complications.
While far less common than winter depression, spring-onset or summer depression also should be taken seriously.
Request an appointment today if winter has you singing the blues.

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