Do you tend to feel happy and content throughout most of the year? Yet whenever winter rolls around, you feel sad, irritable, and tired. When the symptoms of seasonal depression come on, it can be confusing. Maybe you seem to have no real reason for your sudden sadness, except for the change of seasons. You wish you could enjoy the holidays like everyone else seems to. But some days, you don’t even want to get out of bed.
Learning how to recognize the symptoms of seasonal depression is important. That way, you can determine when it’s time to reach out for help and implement beneficial lifestyle changes. Here are a few common warning signs of seasonal depression.
Timing of Symptoms
Normally, you may not struggle with low moods or frequent mood swings. But as soon as the temperature drops and the days start getting shorter, you suddenly find yourself feeling sad for no reason. There’s no discernible cause—in fact, on the outside, everything might seem fine in your everyday life. Yet the change in seasons triggers your symptoms. If nothing else has gone wrong, yet you feel worse with winter approaching and fewer hours of daylight, you’re likely dealing with seasonal depression.
Irregular Sleep Cycle
When the seasons change, and so do the clocks, your circadian rhythm can easily be thrown off. You might find it harder to get to sleep at night. Alternatively, you may struggle with the feeling that by the time you get home, the day has already passed.
Unless you work from home or work outdoors, you may not get any exposure to sunlight throughout the day. Your symptoms may have even been triggered within just a few days of the clocks changing.
Feeling Physically Sluggish
Seasonal depression can leave you feeling worn down and tired. When you get home from work, you might be tempted to take a nap simply because it’s dark out. On the weekends, your friends and family might try to schedule fun plans.
Even if you tag along, you need to muster up all of your energy just to participate. You might try drinking more caffeine to cope with your exhaustion and fatigue, but this just leaves you staying up later at night and exacerbates the problem.
Losing Interest in Hobbies
Winter can seem like the perfect time for indoor hobbies. You’re cozy at home, so why not read long novels, knit sweaters, bake cookies, or try out other activities that will brighten up the season? Yet you can’t work up the enthusiasm for any of these activities.
You’ve neglected your usual hobbies, and the idea of seasonal fun just doesn’t interest you. No matter how much you usually love a particular activity, your hobbies don’t stir any excitement for you anymore. You feel bad about neglecting your interests, but nothing seems to spark your motivation.
Wanting to Stay Isolated
All you want to do is spend time at home. When people invite you out, you might come up with excuses not to join. Instead, you feel like you’re basically hibernating at home. For a little while, this might not seem like a cause for concern. After all, it is wintertime—but if this feeling persists, it could be an indicator of seasonal depression. When people try to check in and ask how you’re doing, you might delay answering them. As the weather gets chillier, the desire to remain isolated only seems to get stronger.
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Do you suspect that you’re suffering from seasonal depression? Working with a therapist can help you cope. Reach out to us to discuss scheduling an appointment.