Coping With Seasonal Depression

By: Dr. Daniel Klyce, PhD, LCP, ABPP

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Winter can be a tough time for mental health, especially once the holidays are over. Shorter days, less sunlight, and disrupted routines can all contribute to low mood. For some people, this pattern is more than just the “winter blues.” It may be Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, includes typical symptoms of major depressive disorder – low mood, loss of interest, fatigue, concentration issues – alongside seasonal-specific markers like oversleeping, overeating (often carbs), and social withdrawal. Most people experience symptoms in late fall or winter, with improvement in the spring. Less commonly, symptoms can appear during the summer months.

SAD versus Other Mood Disorders

With SAD, the timing is often predictable. Symptoms tend to show up around the same time each year and fade when the season changes.

Biological factors are also a component of SAD. Reduced daylight can disrupt serotonin and melatonin levels, as well as the body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm), all of which play a role in mood regulation.

Ways to Manage Seasonal Depression

Even if physical limitations are present, there are effective, research-supported strategies that can help reduce symptoms.

Light and Environment

  • Light therapy: Using a lightbox for 20–30 minutes each day can mimic natural sunlight and improve mood within a few weeks. Starting in early fall, before symptoms fully set in, may help lessen their severity.
  • Maximize natural light: Open curtains, sit near windows, and try to get outside briefly in the morning when possible.

Movement and Routine

  • Regular physical activity: Exercise supports mood and sleep by releasing endorphins. This can be adapted to your needs, including seated exercises, chair yoga, or resistance band workouts.
  • Consistent daily routines: Keeping regular wake times, meals, and social check-ins can reduce isolation and stabilize mood during the winter months.

Mental and Emotional Support

  • Mindfulness and relaxation: Practices such as meditation, deep breathing, and gentle yoga can lower stress and ease depressive symptoms.
  • Nutrition support: Balanced meals with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and B vitamins can help support emotional resilience.
  • Psychotherapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for SAD helps identify seasonal negative thought patterns and build healthy coping strategies.

Coping Strategies with Physical Disabilities in Mind

For individuals with mobility or accessibility challenges, these tools can be adjusted to better fit daily life.

  • Flexible light therapy setups: Lightboxes are portable and can be used at desks or bedside tables. Employers are required under the Americans with Disabilities Act to offer “reasonable accommodations” like brighter workspaces or lightbox use.
  • Accessible exercise options: Seated aerobics, resistance bands, and virtual chair yoga classes allow for safe movement. Always check with your healthcare provider if you are unsure if an exercise is safe for you.
  • Daylight-friendly scheduling: Adjusting work hours to align with daylight—or working remotely or hybrid when possible—may increase light exposure and can also qualify as a reasonable accommodation.
  • Simplified routines: Breaking tasks into smaller steps and using reminders or alarms can help manage fatigue or concentration difficulties.
  • Staying socially connected: Virtual meetups, phone calls, or accessible community groups can reduce loneliness while accounting for transportation or mobility barriers.
  • Enhancing your home environment: Bright décor, full-spectrum lighting, and designated relaxation areas for reading or meditation can support mood and comfort.

Seasonal depression is real, common, and treatable. With the right tools—and adaptations when needed—it’s possible to protect mental health and maintain stability throughout the winter months.

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