Options exist for treating winter blues

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for those struggling with seasonal affective disorder. 

“Basically, it’s light therapy, talk therapy or drug therapy,” said Tim Baxter, counselor at Crossroads Centre for Personal Empowerment. “Those are the three main remedies for seasonal affective disorder.”

Seasonal affective disorder is a mental health condition where reduced sunlight in the winter season creates less Vitamin D in the brain, and in turn leads to depression and low moods. 

It also affects roughly 15 per cent of Canadians who report at least one mild case once in their lives, according to the Canadian Psychological Association. 

Baxter also said there are some warning signs people who think they are struggling with the disorder can watch out for. 

“If they find their depression is getting deeper, it’s lasting longer and they’re resorting to things they normally wouldn’t have,” he said. 

This includes an increased reliance on drugs and alcohol to cope with the emotions seasonal affective disorder can bring.  

Another potential coping mechanism Baxter mentions is physical exercise. 

“I’ve got clients that come in that really struggle with that kind of thing, and I give them a daily calendar and I have them chart out what they do,” he said. 

Zach Gaudette, who is currently studying Border Services at St. Clair College, said this helps him deal with the low moods winter weather can cause.

“I tend to work out a lot to just express my emotions another way by lifting a lot of weight,” Gaudette said.

The understanding and treatment of seasonal affective disorder has also changed since Baxter began practicing as a counselor. 

He said the idea of light therapy, or using special lighting setups to mimic sunlight, was considered very experimental. He also said the results vary from person to person. 

“As it becomes more and more popular, not everybody responds as well as some others do to light therapy,” Baxter said. “But it’s something that, for people who find success in that, it’s very successful for them.” 

Baxter also said having someone to speak with can greatly benefit those affected by seasonal affective disorder.

Gaudette said he agrees this is something to do as well.

“Always talking to someone and expressing how you feel and getting that off your chest is always a good thing to do,” Gaudette said.

On the whole, Baxter said the success of options for people struggling with seasonal affective disorder also come down to the willingness to use them. 

“One of the major factors is the person’s willingness to change some of their routines in their life,” he said. “And when they’re willing to do that, they will see gradual changes in their mood.”