How do People Cope with Changes of Daylight and Shorter Days?
By: Jamie Thornley
It’s that time of year, again, in Colorado when the warm summer days are behind us and winter starts making its entrance.
While wintertime in Colorado can come with many joyous and entertaining activities such as warm fires and fun days enjoying the slopes, it also comes with shorter days and a much earlier sunset. While many people look forward to Day Light Saving Time and getting an extra hour of sleep, many others dread that by the time they get off work it is dark outside and our days of really getting to enjoy time outside and the sunshine is behind us for the next few months.
Not only is this a difficult transition for many people to get used to, but it also does affect many people’s mental health.
People who really struggle with this change are often diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD for short. For these individuals, the decrease in sunlight that is experienced in wintertime disrupts their circadian rhythms and causes their serotonin to drop and melatonin to spike. This leads to an increase in feelings of both depression and fatigue or drowsiness. Living in Colorado oftentimes makes people prime candidates for developing SAD. Along with these symptoms, clients often also report trouble focusing, weight gain, sleeping too much, increased irritability, increases in appetite, and overall feeling sadder. This makes for the perfect recipe to create strong feelings of depression, unfortunately.
4 Ways to Fight Depression Symptoms in the Winter
All hope though is not lost if you are one of the estimated 10 million Americans who are affected by these changes. There are some small lifestyle changes that our therapy practice suggests. These can be used to help cope with these symptoms and support you through the winter.
The first of these is to exercise. How many of you saw that one coming?
I know every doctor and therapist always pushes everyone to exercise and most people despise us for it. Exercise though is proven to help with serotonin production and can pick up some of the slack from the sunlight your body and brain are greatly missing. Not only that, but it also helps with reducing weight gain, which let’s be honest, most of us need throughout the holidays.
Secondly, it can really help to make sure you are eating a healthy diet.
On top of not only exercising, you can also ensure that you are eating a healthy diet. I know another one that clients really hate hearing about, especially with all the delicious pies in the stores. Eating healthy is going to make sure that you are fueling your body to its maximum potential and providing all the vitamins and supplements that it needs to thrive.
The third tip is to try and enjoy as much sunlight as you possibly can.
Go and take walks as often as you can while the sun is out and soak up as much vitamin D as you can. On top of this, open your blinds at home or at the office to get as much sunlight as you can while you are busy with other activities. Alternatively, if you aren’t able to get sunlight look into a light therapy lamp to help fill in some of the gaps in time where you can’t get any sunlight.
Lastly, enjoy time doing the things that you love and spend time with people you care about.
Science has shown us that purposely doing activities that you enjoy and being around people that you care for is proven to increase serotonin levels in the brain and increase overall happiness. So, use this time to connect with others and maybe try out an activity that you have always wanted to try but maybe never had the time to.
And always know that you are not alone in these feelings. Winter and the holidays can be a difficult time for everybody, but you don’t have to go it alone. When in doubt, chat with a therapist and see what other ideas we have to best support you and your mental health through not only this time of year but also year-round.
Get Support for Seasonal Affective Disorder From Therapy in Broomfield & Denver, CO
If you find yourself grappling with the challenges of the winter season our Colorado-based therapy practice is here to provide support. Our experienced therapists specialize in addressing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other mental health concerns exacerbated during this time. With a compassionate approach, we tailor our services to meet your unique needs, helping you navigate the winter blues and cultivate a resilient mindset.
Take the first step toward a brighter season by:
Fill out our form, call us at 720-380-3564 option 1, or email us directly at onboarding@wellmindedcounseling.com for a free consultation.
Schedule your first therapist therapy appointment to receive personalized support and guidance3.
Start feeling empowered and supported as you navigate the challenges of winter.
OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED AT WELLMINDED COUNSELING in Colorado
Therapy for depression isn’t the only service we offer. WellMinded Counseling offers the following counseling services:
Contact our Denver or Broomfield, Colorado office today!