As the days get shorter and there is less daylight, you may start to feel sad. While many people experience the “winter blues,” some people may have a type of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

December 14, 2022 - The winter blues is not a medical diagnosis, is common, and is usually gone in a short amount of time. Seasonal depression, however, is a mental health condition triggered by the changing of the seasons. It involves sadness, little interest or enjoyment from usual daily life, low energy level, tendency to gain weight and an increase in sleeping.

July 14, 2025 - But full SAD goes beyond this. It’s a form of depression. Unlike the winter blues, SAD affects your daily life, including how you feel and think.

December 14, 2021 - Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into ...

November 5, 2020 - The winter blues are a common thing that many people experience when the weather shifts from bright days to the cold, darker days of winter. But if your winter blues start to creep into all aspects of your life, you could be experiencing SAD, which is different.

SAD is more complicated than wanting to hunker down and stay in for the night. It's more than simply cursing another blizzard. And it's more than longing for those first days of spring. Basically, it's much more than the winter blues.

June 12, 2024 - Shorter days, cold weather and stress from the holidays can be challenging, leading to increased stress, sadness and even depression. While it may seem like "just the winter blues," some people may experience more persistent, pervasive symptoms ...

October 4, 2024 - SAD typically presents in late fall and subsides when the weather warms and the days get longer in spring. It's normal to feel down from time to time, and being happy constantly is unrealistic and inauthentic to the human experience.

This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, a major depressive disorder that reoccurs in a seasonal pattern. However, having the winter blues does not necessarily mean clinical depression.

September 19, 2025 - Your VisitLearn More Whether you're looking for a place to park or preparing for an overnight stay, WVU Golisano Children's has the resources you need. Learn…

3 weeks ago - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) goes beyond the “winter blues.” Learn its symptoms, causes, and how reduced daylight impacts mood, energy, and focus.

October 21, 2025 - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) ... that coincide with seasonal changes. Unlike winter blues, SAD meets clinical criteria for depression and requires professional treatment....

January 28, 2026 - The winter blues are common during colder months, but more severe or long-lasting symptoms may be a sign of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

The winter blues, and its more severe counterpart, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), can change the way a person thinks, reacts, and deals with everyday challenges. Those suffering from the winter blues fall into a depressed mood each year in the fall and continue to feel depressed throughout ...

November 19, 2024 - For some children, a change in season brings with it a shift in mood. But the "winter blues" are different than Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern.

June 6, 2023 - Although you may feel more unhappy ... life. But if your winter blues start permeating all aspects of your life — from work to personal relationships — you may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD)....

November 15, 2024 - These brain chemicals influence ... leading to the symptoms of SAD. On the other hand, the winter blues is a more common and milder form of seasonal depression....

August 26, 2025 - While the winter blues are typically mild and short-lived, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is more intense and continuous. The winter blues might make you feel a bit tired or down, but you’re still able to go about your daily life.

November 20, 2024 - “Winter blues” can affect everyone now and then during the cold, dark winter months. You may feel sad or want to stay home, but you’re still able to function. For people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern, being tired, depressed, and unable to concentrate can last several months, year after year.