7 Symptoms Associated with the Winter Blues
Apr 30, 2022
Approximately 6% of those of us that live in the colder part of the U.S. suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). An additional 10-20% experience a mild form of the disorder or the "winter blues."
Most of the symptoms of SAD and milder winter blues are the same. What differentiates the two is the severity of the symptoms. If you experience the symptoms below during the cold dark time of the year, only you may have the winter blues, and if your symptoms are severe, you may have SAD.
Increased Fatigue
A lack of energy for no apparent reason may be your first indication that something is amiss. At the severe end of the spectrum, sufferers describe feelings of both mental and physical fatigue, and weighted feeling throughout the body that makes otherwise easy activities and tasks utterly exhausting.
Withdrawal From Life
Another common symptom is isolation from social activities and people. This may include a loss of interest in daily activities and favorite pastimes, or hobbies, or a lack of interest in sex or maintaining personal hygiene.
Lack of Focus
Issues with memory and concentration may also indicate SAD. Many describe this lack of focus as difficulties with remembering appointments to the more severe inability to make routine and straightforward decisions (i.e., what to wear or eat).
Sleep Difficulties
Sudden changes in sleep patterns—which can range from sleeping all the time (hypersomnia) to not sleeping at all (insomnia)—will often indicate an issue if health is otherwise good.
Disheartened & Deflated
An otherwise happy-go-lucky person may experience a severe shift in mood—for instance, feelings of self-loathing, worthlessness, hopelessness, and an all-around miserable outlook on life.
Irritability
Many SAD sufferers complain of being on an emotional rollercoaster where one minute they are in tears, and the next minute they are overcome with anger. On a less severe scale, you may also feel agitated and restless, but not understand why or what to do to soothe this irritability.
Anxiety
Some individuals also experience anxiety during the winter months. This can range from mild nervousness or restlessness to more severe feelings of stress and an inability to cope without additional support.
If you think you may be experiencing SAD or the winter blues, know that you do not have to navigate it alone. Sometimes having the right support can make a meaningful difference—not only in understanding what you’re experiencing, but in finding tools that truly help.
If you’ve been thinking about reaching out for therapy or coaching but feel unsure where to start, my free guide, How to Interview a Therapist (So You Actually Find the Right One), may help ease some of that uncertainty. It walks you through how to prepare for consultations, what questions to ask, and how to recognize when a provider genuinely feels like the right fit for you.
Because support works best when you feel safe, understood, and empowered in the process.
⟶ Download the FREE guide here
And if you’d like, send me an email—I’d love to hear about your experience.
