DAD.info
Forum - Ask questions. Get answers.
DAD.info | Family | Health | Your Winter Blues Survival Kit

Your Winter Blues Survival Kit

Maya Griffiths

Maya Griffiths

If you find yourself struggling in the cold winter months, you’re not alone. It’s normal to find the grey days grim and depressing. However, if you find winter causes you to experience symptoms including persistent low mood, you may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

SAD is often referred to as ‘winter depression’. Symptoms can include loss of pleasure in activities or feelings of despair, irritability and sleepiness. Craving carbohydrates can also be an issue.

SAD is thought to be caused by a lack of sunlight during the winter months. Scientists believe that less sunlight causes the hypothalamus in the brain to stop working properly. This then causes a range of problems including disruptions to your body clock and hormone levels.

How can I feel better?

  • Get as much sunlight as you can. Even if it’s cloudy or grey, going for a walk or cycle ride can really boost your mood.
  • Try and eat as healthily as possible. When it’s cold we often crave stodgy food, but heavy carbs can cause blood sugar spikes, which then cause you to crash to a low mood. Eat the rainbow by eating lots of fruit and vegetables, as well as plenty of fish.
  • Socialise. You may feel like just hiding indoors, but push yourself to meet a friend, even for an hour. Talking to other people (even if it’s just about the Champions League) will help you feel better.
  • Try and embrace the season. If possible, make the most of being indoors by trying out some new hobbies, recipes or working your way through some films that you haven’t got around to seeing.
  • Take supplements. One of the main sources of vitamin D in our bodies is from sunlight, which we lack exposure to in winter. Taking a vitamin D supplement has been proven to boost mood substantially. Omega 3 supplements can also be beneficial: Iceland has one of the lowest daylight levels in the world, but their high consumption of Omega 3 in fish provides them with an antidepressant effect.
  • Seek some support. You can either speak to your GP if your mood is low, or contact mental health services. There are some that you can text if you feel awkward about seeing or speaking to someone. See below for a list of services available.

Contacts/ resources for support

Text the word SHOUT to 85258. Someone will text you back and speak to you via text about how you’re doing.

Call the Samaritans on 116123.

Contact the Calm Zone.

Speak to Parents Online (text service).

Related entries

Parenting an autistic child: a dad’s story

Parenting an autistic child: a dad’s story

For parents of neurodiverse children, daily life can prove incredibly stressful. As today is World Autism Awareness Day, we spoke to dad Stuart about life parenting an autistic child, and how the free EarlyBird course helped his family. What were some of the...

Latest entries

Separated parents at Christmas: how to make it work

Separated parents at Christmas: how to make it work

If you're separated from your partner and sharing custody, Christmas can be difficult. You might not be seeing your children on Christmas Day. How do separated parents do Christmas? There is no right or wrong way. A number of factors will play in to the arrangements...

Budgeting tips for single parents

Budgeting tips for single parents

For single parents it's not just the lack of support that is overwhelming, but also managing on one income. It can have a real impact on your wellbeing. Thankfully there are free resources available to help you with budgeting and managing debt. Read on to find out our...

Single parent benefits

Single parent benefits

Raising children is an eye-wateringly expensive business- particularly in a cost of living crisis. But when the burden falls entirely to one parent it can feel especially stressful. In 2023 the cost of raising a child in the UK rose to £166,000 for a couple and...

Pin It on Pinterest