Feeling low and craving carbs? You may have winter to blame, says psychologist

If you find January and February makes you too depressed to go about your daily life, you may suffer from something called Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern.

Formerly known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, it is a form of depression that – in some form – affects 15 per cent of Canadians. It is also eight times more likely in women and is usually only seen in adults, according to psychologist Janine Hubbard.

Hubbard told the St. John's Morning Show that two to six percent of Canadians deal with a severe form of the condition, which can have symptoms that range from sleeping more, being lethargic despite sleep, craving to eat carbohydrates, weight gain, difficulty concentrating, irritability and wanting to avoid social situations.

"We all have our days where we want to curl up on the couch and watch TV and eat our cinnamon buns," she said.

"But if you're finding that it's really impacting your life or you're treating with drugs and alcohol or it's impacting your social relationships or work — that's the time to check it out."

Broken biological clock

Starting in the fall and lasting through the winter and into spring, Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern is caused by a decrease in sunlight, which throws off the biological clock.

Hubbard said light therapy can help, whether just by going outside on a sunny day or by using a more controlled method overseen by a doctor.

"It affects some of the chemicals in our brain like serotonin, which regulates our mood, and melatonin, which helps regulate our mood and our sleep," she said.

"It's a fascinating topic that we're still trying to understand."