Millions of people experience negative mental health symptoms when the days grow shorter and colder. Rates of sessional sadness tend to increase the further north you go. This could be due to more extreme winter weather and daylight changes. Symptoms of seasonal sadness could be as minor as mild moodiness or as serious as diagnosed seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
If you know someone who slips into sadness or depression during fall or winter, you may feel helpless to assist them. However, simple acts of kindness and compassion can help them feel less isolated and more loved. Here are some thoughtful gift ideas to brighten the lives of friends who struggle with seasonal sadness.
Comfort Foods
Many people instinctively turn to their favorite comfort foods to soothe their emotions when they’re feeling sad. Food can bring back memories of better times while it nourishes the body and boosts energy levels. Soup is a popular comfort food because it’s delicious, contains important immune-boosting nutrients, and triggers pleasant, nostalgic memories. It also tends to settle the stomach, which can be important for anyone who experiences nausea along with their depression.
If you want to support a friend with seasonal sadness, send them a get well care package with soup, bread, and other comfort food options. Warm foods can be especially soothing when the weather turns cold and gloomy. Don’t forget to tuck an encouraging note inside your care basket to maximize the positive impact of your gift.
Light Therapy Lamp
Nearly four in 10 Americans feel sad in the winter, according to a poll conducted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). There could be many reasons for seasonal sadness, including colder, darker weather with shorter days and longer nights. Decreasing sunlight can interfere with a person’s internal clock and cause them to feel depressed. Additionally, less exposure to sunlight can cause a decline in serotonin, which is an important mood-regulating chemical.
While you can’t give your friend the gift of increased sunlight during the winter, you can give the next-best thing: a light therapy lamp. This product mimics natural sunlight and may help lift both energy levels and mood. Many people report decreased seasonal sadness symptoms when they use a light therapy lamp each morning during winter.
Mindfulness Journal
Practicing daily mindfulness and gratitude are proven methods for relieving stress and improving mood. If one of your friends consistently becomes sad and gloomy every winter, you might try gently disrupting the cycle before it happens again. Consider sending your friend a mindfulness or gratitude journal before winter hits hard. Encourage them to use it daily and see how it impacts their mental health.
You can find gratitude and mindfulness journals that include daily or weekly prompts. These help remove some of the trepidation associated with trying to come up with things to write. The questions are typically designed to trigger self-reflection and help users focus on the good things in their lives.
Aromatherapy Diffuser With Essential Oils
Did you know certain scents can alleviate anxiety and improve mood? Essential oils can be particularly helpful for this purpose because some contain mood-enhancing plant compounds. If you think a friend could use a little help staying upbeat and happy this winter, send them an aromatherapy diffuser with select essential oils. Here are some of the best oils to choose for relieving seasonal sadness:
- Citrus Oils: Orange, lemon, and other citrus oils can boost energy levels and improve mood.
- Bergamot Oil: This fresh and complex oil has an uplifting aroma that can reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
- Jasmine Oil: Jasmine has a long history of use for stimulating feelings of contentment and relieving symptoms of depression.
- Lavender Oil: Research shows this oil has anti-depressive and anti-anxiety properties. It’s also great for promoting quality sleep and relaxation.
For the best results, it’s important to use essential oils properly. Inhaling or applying them without diluting them first could lead to negative reactions. Therefore, it’s a good idea to include an instruction sheet informing the recipient how to properly use their aromatherapy diffuser with essential oils.
Gifts of Entertainment
Seasonal sadness isn’t something that can be willed away. However, gifts of distraction could help minimize symptoms of depression by helping the recipient focus on something else for a time. Items like card games, inspiring books, comedic movies, and adult coloring books can all serve as helpful distractions during times of sadness.
Getting your friend out of the house may be an even more effective bad mood-buster. Consider purchasing tickets to an upcoming concert, holiday festival, or other entertaining event. Invite your friend to come with you so you can enjoy the occasion together. Choose venues that are well-lit, energizing, and have an overall cheerful atmosphere. Dark nightclubs, bars, and other potentially gloomy social settings will likely only feed into their feelings of sadness.
Conclusion
Seasonal sadness is a very real condition that should never be mocked or treated lightly. However, you may be able to gently coax your friend out of their gloomy state by sending heartfelt gifts designed to lift and comfort. Consider sending one or more of these gifts the next time you notice your friend slipping into a pattern of seasonal sadness.
