WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY OF NEXT WEEK. NICE TO SEE SOME RAIN. WE’RE NOW SEEING SHORTER DAYS, LONGER NIGHTS. SOME PEOPLE MAY EXPERIENCE WHAT THEY CALL SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER. OUR OWN ALYSSA MUNOZ JOINS US IN THE STUDIO THIS MORNING. AND ALYSSA, YOU SPOKE WITH A HEALTH EXPERT ON SOME WAYS TO HELP WITH THIS. YEAH, I DID ROYALE AND TODD AND SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER, KNOWN AS SAD OR WINTER DEPRESSION STARTS AROUND LATE FALL OR EARLY WINTER WHEN THERE’S LESS SUNLIGHT. NOW HERE’S SOME SIGNS YOU CAN LOOK OUT FOR. IT’S NORMAL TO HAVE DAYS WHERE YOU JUST FEEL DOWN OR SLEEPY, BUT BE WARY. IF YOU START OVERSLEEPING A LOT. APPETITE CHANGES, SUCH AS CRAVING FOODS WITH HIGHER CARBOHYDRATES LIKE CAKE, CHOCOLATE OR CANDY. AND IF YOU NOTICE ANY WEIGHT GAIN OR LOW ENERGY. NOW, CHRISTINA SAUER, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AT UNM, SAYS, HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOURSELF. THEY’RE NOTICING CHANGES WITH THE SEASON AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STRATEGIES PEOPLE CAN USE TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR THEMSELVES, LIKE MAKING SURE THAT YOU DO GET SOME TIME OUTSIDE EVERY DAY, TRYING TO GET LIGHT EXPOSURE EARLY IN THE DAY. YOU KNOW, THERE’S OTHER NUTRITIONAL STRATEGIES, AND IF YOU FEEL DOWN FOR DAYS AT A TIME, AND THESE METHODS AREN’T HELPING, SEE A HEALTH CARE
Signs and strategies to cope with seasonal affective disorder
Doctors say seasonal affective disorder is common in the fall and winter months
Updated: 7:04 AM MST Nov 12, 2025
As the days become shorter and nights grow longer, some individuals may experience seasonal affective disorder, commonly known as SAD or winter depression.The disorder typically begins in late fall or early winter due to reduced sunlight, but there are some cases in the summer.Kristina Sowar, an associate professor at the University of New Mexico, said there are a few symptoms to look out for with SAD.”If someone is really feeling like, you know, my mood is just really low, and in turn, I have very limited motivation. It’s hard for me to get out of bed. It’s hard for me to socialize with people who I care about. It’s pretty hard for me to go to work or school,” Sowar said. “Like, when there’s enough impairment that it’s impacting your day-to-day life. We definitely recommend that people seek some professional support.”Symptoms to watch for include oversleeping, changes in appetite such as cravings for high-carbohydrate foods like cake, chocolate, and candy, weight gain, and low energy levels. “If they’re noticing changes with the season, there are strategies people can use to provide some additional support for themselves, like making sure that you do get some time outside every day, trying to get light exposure early in the day,” Sowar said. “You know, there’s other nutritional strategies.” If feelings of sadness persist for days at a time and self-help methods are ineffective, Sowar advised consulting a health care provider.
As the days become shorter and nights grow longer, some individuals may experience seasonal affective disorder, commonly known as SAD or winter depression.
The disorder typically begins in late fall or early winter due to reduced sunlight, but there are some cases in the summer.
Kristina Sowar, an associate professor at the University of New Mexico, said there are a few symptoms to look out for with SAD.
“If someone is really feeling like, you know, my mood is just really low, and in turn, I have very limited motivation. It’s hard for me to get out of bed. It’s hard for me to socialize with people who I care about. It’s pretty hard for me to go to work or school,” Sowar said. “Like, when there’s enough impairment that it’s impacting your day-to-day life. We definitely recommend that people seek some professional support.”
Symptoms to watch for include oversleeping, changes in appetite such as cravings for high-carbohydrate foods like cake, chocolate, and candy, weight gain, and low energy levels.
“If they’re noticing changes with the season, there are strategies people can use to provide some additional support for themselves, like making sure that you do get some time outside every day, trying to get light exposure early in the day,” Sowar said. “You know, there’s other nutritional strategies.”
If feelings of sadness persist for days at a time and self-help methods are ineffective, Sowar advised consulting a health care provider.