02/02/2026
Winter hues giving you the blues?
Have you found yourself unable to get excited about your favourite winter activities recently? Maybe you’ve noticed you’ve retained the holiday eating pattern without the cheer. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a well-publicized condition that affects people at this time of year. It is currently considered a type of either major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder rather than a unique condition of its own 5. The most common and well-known form is winter depression, where symptoms come on in the late fall into the winter and persist until the spring/summer, with this cycle generally repeating year after year 5. These symptoms might improve with sunlight exposure. It is a good idea to see a medical professional especially if symptoms are severe, persist beyond two weeks, or if they are accompanied by weight gain, excessive sleeping, and unusually significant cravings for carbohydrate-rich sweet/starchy foods 1. Fortunately, the condition is quite treatable with things like light therapy 2,3, cognitive behavioural “talk therapy” 3, or specific antidepressant medications 4 as recommended by a licensed healthcare professional specific to each individual. If your symptoms are minor or you are looking for something you can compliment your provider’s recommendations with, get outside and do your favourite winter activity, especially on sunny days (even if you may not feel like it) 7. Indoor exercise might also help 7. Try to stay social 8 and aim for a healthy balanced nutritional intake. For those who like gadgets, dawn simulating lights may have some benefit 7. Vitamin D and/or B12 supplementation can be attempted under recommendation of your healthcare provider 9. Don’t let seasonal affective disorder get you down. Talk to a healthcare professional about your symptoms. If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis or distress, text or dial 988 or visit chat.988lifeline.org for 24/7/365 help.
References:
1: Yang Y, Zhang S, Zhang X, Xu Y, Cheng J, Yang X. The Role of Diet, Eating Behavior, and Nutrition Intervention in Seasonal Affective Disorder: A Systematic Review. Front Psychol. 2020 Aug 4;11:1451. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2
