4 Seasonal Depression Causes and How to Fix Them

Although there are many seasonal depression causes, there are also methods to combat them.

One of the major seasonal depression causes is being stuck inside because of cold weather and a pandemic. Far more people are stuck in their homes and depressed than every before. 

So, here are 4 seasonal depression causes and how to fix them:

1. Lack of social interaction

It’s no secret that in the colder seasons, we spend more time indoors. This also means that we spend less time with other people. When you add a global pandemic, it is a recipe for disaster. We talk to people less and spend more time by ourselves, which can lead to us feeling alone and depressed.

2. Not enough sunlight

With winter comes shorter days, most of which we spend inside working. So by the time we leave work, whether it’s at home or in the office, it’ll be dark. This means you missed out on prime sunlight hours indoors. This can cause a deficiency in vitamin D, leading to symptoms of depression.

3. Poor diet

You can say that we tend to “hibernate” in the winter by dealing with the holidays, which make us eat a ton of sweets and delicious treats. Having a poor diet and lack of whole foods and nutrition can cause depression in most people.

4. Lack of exercise

Exercise releases endorphins in the body. Endorphins, as we know, make us happy! When we’re not moving, it’s more likely that we'll end up feeling more groggy, fatigued, and stressed. Add this to all of the other reasons above, and you’re in for a very bad winter.

However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Here’s how you can address your seasonal depression causes:

1. Light therapy

It may seem weird to use a box that shines extremely bright light on you, but it works. There is much research showing the benefits of using light therapy to mimic the daylight that you may be missing in the colder months.

2. Talk with your doctor

If you’re finding that the symptoms of SAD are disrupting your daily life, it may be time to speak to your doctor about ways you can combat them, such as SSRIs (aka anti-depressants).

3. Move every day

Try to get some movement every day to keep yourself feeling productive and energized. This can be as simple as a daily walk or a vigorous 30-60 minute workout. Any movement counts!

4. Create a routine, even if it’s small

One of the easiest ways to combat these symptoms is to keep yourself busy with a scheduled routine. We thrive on routine as humans, and having daily to-dos can keep us feeling the positive of having structure.

5. Join online groups

When you’re feeling lonely and stuck inside, sometimes it helps to join a group online where you can converse with other people about similar interests, health issues, or anything in between. Find a group that speaks to you and join it!

Which of these seasonal depression causes are you battling right now? We hope our tips for combating them help!