Do You Feel Low Around the Same Time Each Year? Let Us Explore the Story Behind It Together

If you notice that your mood consistently shifts downward at certain times of the year, you may be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is more than just the “winter blues.” It is a form of depression that tends to emerge with the change of seasons, and it can profoundly affect how you think, feel, and engage with your life. According to the American Psychiatric Association, approximately five percent of adults in the United States live with this condition.

As a therapist who integrates narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and positive psychology into my practice, I invite you to explore the meaning behind your seasonal emotional experiences—not as a flaw in your character, but as a part of your story that may be asking to be understood and gently reshaped.

Understanding the Roots of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Although research is ongoing, seasonal affective disorder appears to be linked to how the changing seasons disrupt biological rhythms. Shifts in daylight can affect your circadian rhythms, melatonin production, and serotonin levels—each of which plays a vital role in regulating sleep, mood, and energy. These biological changes may silently influence the way you think and feel, and over time, those thoughts and emotions can reinforce discouraging or painful internal narratives.

In narrative therapy, we pause and ask: What story are these symptoms telling about your relationship with this time of year? Through that lens, we begin to reconnect you with your values, your agency, and the strengths you have utilized before—even during challenging times.

What SAD May Feel Like

Seasonal affective disorder often follows a predictable cycle, beginning and ending around the same time each year. For most people, symptoms typically appear in the fall and persist through the winter months. However, some individuals experience SAD in the spring or summer.

Common symptoms include:

• Persistent sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, irritability, or feelings of worthlessness

• Loss of interest in activities that previously brought joy or meaning

• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

• Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping too much or too little)

• Changes in appetite, especially craving carbohydrates, which can lead to weight gain or loss

• Fatigue or low energy that feels hard to overcome

• In more serious cases, thoughts of self-harm or suicide

These experiences do not define you. They are part of what is happening, but they are not the whole story.

Rewriting the Season: Therapy Can Help

If you see yourself in the descriptions above, you are not alone, and you do not need to navigate this on your own. I have had the privilege of working with many clients who have experienced SAD, and together, we have gently rewritten the emotional chapters tied to specific seasons.

In our work together, I may incorporate:

• CBT techniques to challenge unhelpful beliefs and build more balanced, supportive thoughts

• Mindfulness practices to help you remain grounded in the present, even when your mood tries to pull you away

• Positive psychology exercises to reconnect you with moments of purpose, gratitude, and hope

• Narrative approaches to help you explore the meaning you have made of these seasonal patterns—and create a richer, more empowered version of your personal story

You deserve care, insight, and a space where you can feel safe to explore these seasonal shifts in your mental health. If you have seasonal affective disorder, I would be honored to talk with you, listen without judgment, and help you understand what is unfolding for you. Should we determine that SAD is part of your experience, I will offer you a customized treatment plan tailored to your needs and strengths.

Please feel free to reach out and schedule a session with me. Let us explore your story together—and find new ways for you to thrive in every season.