Even in the best of years, the fall and winter months can be an emotionally challenging time for many people. Feelings of sadness or depression, sometimes referred to as the “winter blues” or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), can increase as the days get shorter and colder. Mental Health America reports, in any given year, about 5% of the U.S. population experiences seasonal depression. SAD is more than just a fleeting feeling of gloom. It’s a type of depression that recurs at the same time each year, typically starting in the late fall and early winter, then subsiding during the spring and summer months.