Grand Rapids Is One Of The Worst Cities For Seasonal Depression

If you've lived in Michigan for any amount of time, you're probably aware of how hard it is to thrive in the winter months. Between the bitter cold, fighting chapped lips, and being stuck inside, you don't have to find a lot of reasons to be bummed out.

Specifically, the colder months also mean we lose a lot of serotonin because of the lack of sunlight. While we see a lot of sunny days in the summer months, as soon as November rolls in, so do the seemingly never ending clouds.

When you think of winter and seasonal depression, you may not realize that it actually starts to set in sooner than you'd think. The experts at Thriveworks revealed that it actually picks up right as the temperatures drop, with seasonal depression set to peak in the second full week of November.

Thriveworks used Google Trends and weather pattern data to determine the seasonal depression peak, finding that this year’s search trends are tracking to hit 2.44% higher than in 2022 and 33.34% higher than in 2021.

And even worse? Grand Rapids is ranked #6 in the country for the most people who suffer from seasonal depression- so no, you're not alone if the snow and clouds bum you out.

What can you do in order to fight the wintertime blues?

There are a few easy solutions that you can use to help keep seasonal depression at bay until we get those beautiful summer months back.

1. Get a UV lamp or go to the tanning bed

You may think "I don't need to work on my base tan", but UV light treatments actually make a great substitute for sunlight when you aren't getting it naturally. If you're not a fan of the tanning bed, you can buy a light on Amazon that you can sit in front of daily to boost that vitamin D you're missing

2. Take Vitamin D Supplements

Speaking of Vitamin D, it's what you're missing when the sun hides for months on end. An easy way to battle seasonal depression is to add it to your daily routine. (Obviously, you should check with your doctor before you change anything with your diet)

3. Spend time with friends and family

It's easy to accidentally isolate too much during the winter months. Whether you spend time together, go out to eat, play a video game, or just make a video call, you want to make sure you're getting plenty of social interaction.

4. Don't be afraid to reach out for help

If none of the above work for you, it's okay- you're not alone. Make sure you're aware of resources out there, and take to a professional. Therapists, or help hotlines can be a literal lifesaver when you need it most.

Keep these numbers close to you in case you need them: 988 is the new national suicide hotline number, and you can also call 866-903-3787 to reach the national mental health hotline.

Take care of yourself and your loved ones this winter and remember, you are loved and important. Don't let the wintertime blues get the best of you this season.