Welcome to The Winter Blues: Understanding SAD or more commonly known as seasonal depression  

As the days get shorter and the light fades earlier, it’s common to notice changes in our mood, energy, and motivation. For some people, these shifts can be quite mild - that sense of feeling a bit low or unmotivated as winter sets in.

But for others, the darker months can bring on something deeper, something known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD - a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, usually appearing in the autumn and winter months.

So what is SAD? 

SAD is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern.

For most people who experience it, symptoms begin in the autumn as the days get shorter, and they often continue through the winter months, usually lifting again when spring returns.

It’s more than just feeling a bit fed up about the weather or missing the sunshine.

For some, SAD can really affect day-to-day life, how we think, how we feel, and even how we function.

The main trigger is a lack of natural daylight. When there’s less sunlight, it can disrupt the body’s internal clock - what’s known as our circadian rhythm  and it can also affect levels of serotonin, the chemical in our brain that helps regulate mood, and melatonin, which helps with sleep.

So, when these systems get thrown off balance, we might find ourselves feeling more tired, more withdrawn, and less motivated than usual.

Click the link below to learn more on how to cope with SAD

https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/3766705d-a135-47a1-9148-a9d38dbfb38b/episodes/bf4261cd-4f6d-4a32-848c-957e381390ca/the-meeks-counselling-podcast-seasonal-depression---understanding-sad

https://open.spotify.com/episode/03L4FThcZtiats1AAHmXOR?si=ee3947e730394cf6