Depression

If your mood tends to worsen during darker months, preparing before symptoms become intense can make winter easier to manage. A seasonal depression plan should answer: What usually changes for me? What helps me stay functional? What are my early warning signs? What will I do before things become difficult? The goal is not to

Seasonal depression can affect energy, motivation, sleep, concentration, appetite, social interest, and the ability to start ordinary tasks. Helpful coping skills should make daily life easier to manage during darker months. The goal is not to force yourself to feel cheerful. It is to reduce the patterns that tend to make seasonal depression worse and

Light therapy, also called bright light therapy, is a treatment commonly used for winter-pattern seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It involves sitting near a specially designed bright light box for a set amount of time each day, usually in the morning. The light is much brighter than ordinary indoor lighting and is intended to help compensate

On difficult seasonal-depression days, self-care does not need to look productive, inspiring, or perfectly organized. The goal is to make the day a little easier to move through. Think: “What would help me function, feel less stuck, or make the next few hours more manageable?” Seasonal Depression Self-Care Ideas for Difficult Days 1. Open the