The simple case of the winter blues is not simple for some people, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH). Seasonal changes do affect mental health — and, in many cases, the impact is negative. Individuals with annually recurring depressive episodes may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

1. Not Just the Winter Blues:
Cold Weather Influences
Mental Health
Comfort Solutions

2. The simple case of the winter blues is not simple for some people, according to the National
Institute of Mental Health (NIH). Seasonal changes do affect mental health — and, in many cases, the
impact is negative. Individuals with annually recurring depressive episodes may be suffering from
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
The NIH defines this condition as a type of depression affected by the coming and going of seasons.
Depressive episodes begin in early winter and usually end when spring or summer starts. Seasonal
depression can also occur during the summer, but winter SAD episodes are more common.
People with other mental issues are at risk of experiencing an influx of symptoms as the seasons
change. A 2013 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine analyzed Google
searches on mental health. User searches suggested that mental illnesses worsen during colder
months since the weather makes coping more difficult.
Limited Access to Coping Skills
Cold weather prevents people struggling with their mental health from coping well because it
restrains some of their self-care routines (e.g., riding a bike, exercising, or walking under the sun).
Moreover, winter drives people to spend more time indoors, which reinforce the idea of loneliness.

3. Studies also suggest that the lack of Vitamin D plays a role in SAD. Vitamin D deficiency and its effect
on mental health remain a contentious topic. Some researchers believe that taking Vitamin D during
winter lifts moods and encourages proper coping.
Anxiety Fluctuates with the Cold
People diagnosed with anxiety experience a volatile range of symptoms during colder seasons. They
are prone to drastic changes in sleep cycles, shorter patience, and mood changes. The lack of
sunlight promotes manic and depressive feelings that result in panic or anxiety attacks.
Disorder Management
Adjusting one's routine and preparing the environment make coping with SAD and other mental
illnesses easier during the winter season.
Cozy fires are one way to cope with SAD behaviors. Fireplaces, fire pits, and pellet stoves encourage
a warm atmosphere, which brightens the environment and lift the individual’s spirits. Exposure to
natural light (no matter how little) also makes a positive change in a person’s mood.

4. Constant medication also prevents symptoms from worsening during the winter season.
Alleviating the condition requires proactivity on patient proactivity to resolve winter-borne
symptoms before they become unmanageable.
Sources:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/seasonal-affective-disorder/index.html
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/ehs-gsa040713.php
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-breakthrough-depression-
solution/201111/psychological-consequences-vitamin-d-deficiency
http://www.fireplacesutah.com