Do you find yourself struggling to get out of bed, oversleeping, over eating, or finding less enjoyment out of your day to day activities? As the day light hours continue to be short, the bitter cold remains unrelenting, and winter shows no signs of stopping, many people find themselves feeling the blues during these long winter months. In addition to the lack of sunlight and activity, the end of holiday socializing, and the disappointment of un-kept New Year’s resolutions, you may be feeling down in the dumps. What you are most likely feeling is known by a couple of names, including the winter blues, winter depression, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
You are not alone in feeling this way, and approximately 15% of the general Canadian population are affected by this type of depression. People affected may notice a lack of energy, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, avoidance of social situations, and feelings of anxiety or despair. When left untreated these symptoms can lead to depression, feelings of helplessness, and insomnia.
The good news is that the winter blues is treatable. Getting more sunlight, exercise, and seeing friends are all helpful solutions. You can do something now to help yourself before the symptoms become worse. Professional counsellors can help you to create a plan tailored to your lifestyle and personality to best help you from the winter abyss and get you back to feeling like your normal self…or even better!
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