It’s that time of year.  The days are shorter, and it’s cold outside. You notice the lack of energy. The low mood is getting worse.  It’s frustrating, and you’re tired of it.

The things you used to enjoy aren’t interesting anymore.  Nothing is except for sleeping, which seems like the only thing you can do.  

If you suffer from Seasonal Depression, there are ways to end this seasonal cycle of depression and learn skills and insights that help eliminate the depression.  

Common Symptoms of Seasonal Depression

While everyone’s experience of seasonal depression is unique to them and their specific life circumstances, here are some of the common symptoms of Seasonal Depression: 

  • feeling ‘down’ or depressed most of the day almost every day

  • low energy or extreme fatigue

  • the body feels heavy

  • low motivation; challenging to get things done

  • flat or negative mood

  • trouble focusing, concentrating, and remembering

  • lose of interest in activities you once enjoyed

  • being around others feels too exhausting

  • craving ‘junk food,’ high carbohydrate foods

  • weight gain

  • sleeping too much or having trouble sleeping

  • feeling hopeless, worthless

  • thoughts of not wanting to live

Seasonal disorder treatment can help

In Manitoba, we know that too many people are seriously impacted by Seasonal Depression.  It’s hard to endure.  Winter turns everything cold, the days get darker, and you feel helpless as the depression sets in.  But there is help. 

Therapists at My Winnipeg Therapist have worked with numerous clients with seasonal depression.  You can learn skills and techniques to reduce depression and, with time, gradually eliminate it.  

The My Winnipeg Therapist Approach to Seasonal Affective Disorder Treatment.

Cognitive behaviour therapy is the most researched treatment for depression.  As with other types of severe depression, a therapist using CBT works to identify your stressors, underlying thought patterns, and moods.  You learn to identify patterns and themes in your negative thinking and techniques to challenge and change negative thoughts and negative thinking patterns. 

In addition, our therapists may consider some secondary treatment options to support you. Light therapy helps replace some natural sunlight, which positively affects mood. Also, there is a strong connection between seasonal depression and low vitamin D levels. Talking to your doctor about using a vitamin D supplement may be recommended as part of treatment. There are other options, and we look for as many resources as possible to help your recovery.  

To gain control over seasonal depression, our successful clients do these things.  Most commit to attending therapy on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Not all clients can attend in this way, and our therapists work with you to schedule appointments to fit your circumstances in a way that promotes positive change.  They practice what they learned in the session outside of the session.  They know smaller positive changes build up over time, leading to bigger changes.  Initial treatment can be between 8 to 16 sessions. 

What is holding you back from beginning seasonal disorder treatment?

When to get treatment for seasonal depression matters.  Some people with seasonal depression only think of going to counselling when they feel their worst, but they don’t go because their motivation or energy is so low.  That only adds to prolonged suffering.  Please don’t wait for it to be too late.  

It’s always better to start counselling before your depression is at its worst.  

Clients can feel they don’t have time for counselling.  But there is nothing that takes up more time and puts everything else in your life on hold than a significant episode of depression.  Counselling will take an hour a week or every second week.  Depression can take up substantial parts of the day for weeks and months.  

For some clients, coming into the office is too hard. We understand that and offer online counselling to make it as stress-free as possible. 

Begin Seasonal Depression Treatment in Winnipeg.

You don’t have to live with the fear of winter and the depression overtaking you.  Counselling can help you find ways to combat negative thoughts, boost your low mood and feel good during the winter months.   

Our Corydon Avenue Counselling Clinic has caring therapists who specialize in treating seasonal depression.  To start your counselling journey, follow these simple steps:

  1. Contact My Winnipeg Therapist. Fill out the contact form, email, or phone. Our Client Care Coordinator is here to help you find the right therapist.
  2. Meet with one of our caring therapists.
  3. Start feeling confident in your knowledge and skills that protect you from seasonal depression.

Other Mental Health Services at My Winnipeg Therapist.

Seasonal depression treatment isn’t our only service at My Winnipeg Therapist.  

My Winnipeg Therapist offers a variety of mental health services. Our therapists offer specialized counselling for depression, panic attacks, low self-esteem, relationship, couples and marriage counselling, anxiety treatment, and Social Anxiety.

We offer counselling for children, youth, young adults, and adults.  

Contact our Winnipeg counselling clinic today to get the help you need to move forward with confidence.