Virginia Beach Depression Counseling

How to Cope with Seasonal Depression in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is vibrant, sunny, and packed with energy from May through September. But when the tourists leave, the Oceanfront boardwalk empties out, and gray, damp coastal winters set in, the shift is stark. Seasonal depression hits many. Online depression therapy is one way to cope.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Therapists in Virginia Beach

Online seasonal therapy in Virginia Beach is confidential, convenient, and safe. Most clients see their therapist for 8-12 sessions for seasonal depression before they start feeling better.

Ariel Meaney

4+ Years Exp

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Taylor Hiers

15+ Years Exp

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Chasity Bilzing

3+ Years Exp

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Meera Doshi

4+ Years Exp

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Sabrina Jackson

4+ Years Exp

Book Session

Adeela Aslam

5+ Years Exp

Book Session

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Seasonal Depression Counseling in Hampton Roads Can Help You Make It To Sunnier Days

Virginia Beach is a beautiful, bustling vacation spot during the summer. Tourists flood the streets, and for good reason. Between the stunning oceanfront and lively boardwalk, the summer months are a beautiful time. But then. . . the weather turns cold, the tourists leave, and the clouds come in. Winters in Virginia Beach can be sunless and gloomy, without the charm of snow to break up the days, and made worse by the financial stress the Holidays can bring. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression, sees a sharp rise during the winter months. Coping with seasonal depression in Virginia Beach means getting outside when the sun makes an appearance, staying healthy, and talking to an online depression therapist.

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Seasonal Depression Counseling in Hampton Roads Can Help You Make It To Sunnier Days

Why Does My Depression Get Worse In The Winter?

The sun provides dopamine, which helps regulate our mood and prevents depression. During cloudier winter months, there’s less sun and more risk for depression. In Virginia Beach, seasonal depression is also affected by these factors:

In the summer, there’s always something to do. Lounging along the Oceanfront, catching live music on the Boardwalk, or exercising at First Landing State Park, it’s not hard to get out of your house and do something fun. In the winter, many of those activities stop. Virginia Beach is a big tourist destination, and a lot of the attractions that bring people in stop operating during the winter. This can make it harder to get out and meet people. This isolation is a big trigger for seasonal depression.

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For those in the tourism, hospitality, or surf/skate industry, the sudden drop in income paired with dark, windy beach days leads to intense lethargy, oversleeping, and a feeling of being stuck. All this leads to seasonal depression. Depression is more than just feeling sad. If you’re exhausted, unmotivated, and numb, you might be experiencing seasonal depression. Talk to an online depression therapist during the winter months so you can hit the summer months with good mental health.

Find a Depression Therapist in Virginia Beach

The winter months are also home to the Holidays. A time of family, celebration, and major expenses. From travelling to gift buying and hosting, the holidays can bring as much stress as they do joy. This stress can lead to feeling trapped in your financial situation, overwhelmed by bills, and down about yourself. Together, this can make seasonal depression worse. If you’re stressed about finances this year, talk to an online seasonal depression therapist. It can mean the difference between enjoying your winter months and dreading them.

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Seasonal Depression Help Hampton Roads

Seasonal depression is very treatable. Most of the time, it’ll go away in the summer months. Having a little bit of help during the winter months can keep you healthy and happy. Lifebulb’s online seasonal depression therapists use evidence-based treatments like:

Addressing Negative Thought Patterns

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps you identify negative, untrue thought patterns like “I’ll never be happy again” and replace them with true thoughts. “The winter months are hard for me, but I know this time will come to an end and I’ll feel happy again.” Seasonal depression can make you think that you’ll never be okay again, that you’ll never fit in or have a sense of purpose again. These are lies that depression tells you, and a Virginia Beach online depression counselor can help you get rid of them.

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Building Healthy Coping Mechanisms

Mindfulness has been proven to be highly effective at treating depression. Through mindfulness-based therapy, you can learn how to ground yourself from dissociation, process negative emotions, and make space for joy again. Mindfulness is especially helpful at treating seasonal depression, which tends to be intense but based on situational factors like winter.

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Growing a Community for Long-Term Health

Research shows that people with a strong support system are less likely to experience depression and more likely to recover from it. During the winter, lean on your support system. If you don’t feel like you have one, talk to a therapist about interpersonal therapy. This is a therapy modality that helps you build and strengthen social relationships with people in your community, protecting you from mental health issues this winter and beyond.

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Appointment for online therapy Virginia Beach

How To Schedule With Lifebulb’s Virginia Beach Online Depression Therapists

Whether you’re on the south side or call the peninsula home, you can talk to one of our licensed, qualified depression and life transition therapists in Virginia Beach through online therapy. 100% confidential and safe, online therapy is as effective and affordable as in-person therapy. Lifebulb online therapists accept most major insurance plans, like Sentara Health plans. Call our team for a quick 10-minute scheduling call or browse our online therapists using our find a therapist directory.

Find a Depression Therapist in Virginia Beach