Winter can quietly intensify anxiety symptoms, loneliness, isolation, guilt, and depression—especially if you live with PTSD, chronic stress, or past trauma. In this episode of Cozy in the Chaos, we gently explore a question many people struggle to answer:

Is this just winter blues… or seasonal depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder)?

You’ll learn the clear difference between winter blues and seasonal depression, including the emotional, physical, and relational signs that signal when your nervous system may need more than rest and comfort alone. We talk about why trauma and chronic stress make seasonal mood shifts feel heavier, how darkness and isolation can amplify old survival patterns, and why struggling in winter is not a personal failure.

This episode includes:

• A simple breakdown of winter blues vs seasonal depression

• Common anxiety symptoms, guilt, and withdrawal that show up during darker months

• Red flags that it may be more than seasonal fatigue

• How PTSD and trauma impact seasonal depression

• A gentle self-check quiz to help you understand where you fall

• 10 practical, realistic tools to support mood, energy, relationships, and connection

If winter affects your relationships, sense of connection, or ability to function day-to-day, this episode offers compassionate clarity and small, doable steps forward. Whether you’re navigating mild winter blues or deeper seasonal depression, you’ll leave with tools that honor your nervous system and meet you where you are.

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- Winter Blues vs. Seasonal Affective Disorder Self-Check quiz

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