Finding Light in the Dark Season: Overcoming the Winter Blues
As the days grow shorter and the light fades earlier, many people notice their mood and energy begin to shift. What starts as cozy can slowly turn into heaviness, fatigue, or a sense of being “off.” If winter feels harder for you than other seasons, you’re not alone. In this post, Lizzie Malin, LPC-Associate (supervised by Kerry Williamson, MA, LPC-S, LMFT-S, CST), offers gentle tools and compassionate insight to help you understand the “winter blues” and begin finding warmth, light, and steadiness again.
Crunchy leaves, crisp breeze, fall colors, and the delicious flavors of pumpkin and peppermint have returned. A certain peace begins to settle as the rhythm for winter. At first, the shorter days can feel cozy—a time for rest and reflection. But for some, the early sunsets and long nights can send them into a slump.
Many people tell themselves, “I can wait it out until spring.” But when the darkness outside starts to feel like it’s settling inside too, it may be a sign of something deeper—something that deserves care, not dismissal.
Many people tell themselves, “I can wait it out until spring.” But when the darkness outside starts to feel like it’s settling inside too, it may be a sign of something deeper—something that deserves care, not dismissal.
You’re Not Alone—and You’re Not Lazy
What’s often called the “winter blues” can actually be a form of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It’s common, real, and treatable. Shorter days, reduced sunlight, and changes in routine can all disrupt our mood, sleep, and energy levels.
This can look like:
It may be easy to label yourself as lazy or unmotivated—but this isn’t about willpower. It’s a natural biological and emotional response to seasonal change. Your body and mind are asking for care, not criticism.
This can look like:
- Feeling low, irritable, or tearful more days than not
- Sleeping more, but still feeling tired
- Difficulty concentrating or finding motivation
- Pulling away from friends, family, or activities you usually enjoy
- Craving carbs and comfort foods, or noticing changes in appetite
Finding Light in the Darker Months
The darker months can challenge our emotional rhythms, but they can also be a time to reconnect with ourselves in gentler ways. Building small moments of light into your day—like sitting near a sunny window, taking a morning walk, or checking in with how you really feel—can make a difference.
Maintaining a steady sleep schedule, getting regular movement, and reaching out for connection can also help stabilize your mood.
Sometimes, though, these steps aren’t enough on their own—and that’s okay. Together, we can navigate this season with compassion and practical tools that fit your life. I often approach SAD with creativity and reflection, helping you process emotions in ways that feel natural and healing. Therapy can offer space to explore the heaviness, rediscover what brings you energy, and find light again, even when days feel dim.
Maintaining a steady sleep schedule, getting regular movement, and reaching out for connection can also help stabilize your mood.
Sometimes, though, these steps aren’t enough on their own—and that’s okay. Together, we can navigate this season with compassion and practical tools that fit your life. I often approach SAD with creativity and reflection, helping you process emotions in ways that feel natural and healing. Therapy can offer space to explore the heaviness, rediscover what brings you energy, and find light again, even when days feel dim.
You Don’t Have to Wait for Spring to Feel Better
When we try to push through on our own, symptoms can linger and deepen. What begins as a slump can quietly grow into depression that affects relationships, work, and overall wellbeing.
You don’t have to wait for spring to start feeling better—and you don’t have to navigate this alone. Healing is possible, even in life’s colder seasons. There is always a path forward—one step, one session, one small moment of light at a time.
If this season feels heavier than usual, you don’t have to push through alone. Counseling can help you understand what your body and mind are asking for. I would be honored to walk alongside you to create space for warmth, light, and healing— helping you to feel grounded, supported, and renewed even on the darkest days.
You don’t have to wait for spring to start feeling better—and you don’t have to navigate this alone. Healing is possible, even in life’s colder seasons. There is always a path forward—one step, one session, one small moment of light at a time.
If this season feels heavier than usual, you don’t have to push through alone. Counseling can help you understand what your body and mind are asking for. I would be honored to walk alongside you to create space for warmth, light, and healing— helping you to feel grounded, supported, and renewed even on the darkest days.
Lizzie works with older children (age 10 and up), teens, adults, and couples as they navigate anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, addiction, and life transitions. She incorporates creativity and expressive arts into her work and is especially passionate about supporting clients through identity development, relational struggles, and seasons of change. If you would like to meet with Lizzie or another ALCS counselor, please contact our office.
Posted in Blogs by Lizzie