Using CBD and THC to Support Mood During Seasonal Depression

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, and it’s most common during the winter months. According to anecdotal reports, customers who use CBD for seasonal affective disorder focus on products that reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, and have the potential to boost mood. The mood-lifting capabilities of Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC, meanwhile, make marijuana and hemp derived THC popular for combatting winter blues as well. 

Read on to learn about the possibilities for compounds such as THC and CBD for depression; the best products and dosages for SAD symptoms; and much more.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

Also known as seasonal depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) refers to a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. SAD is most common in the winter months, when a insufficient sun exposure results in a lack of Vitamin D that can cause mood swings, a loss of pleasure and interest in normal activities, irritability, lethargy, irregular sleep patterns, and other symptoms associated with depression more generally. 

Seasonal affective disorder is especially common in states that experience longer winters and more severe winter weather. 

How Can CBD Support Mood and Sleep During the Winter Months?

CBD produces its effects through its interaction with the endocannabinoid system, which includes a network of CB1 receptors in the brain responsible for regulating the hormones and neurotransmitters associated with mood, sleep, stress, and other aspects of mental health. 

Interested in CBD for seasonal affective disorder? Here are some of the ways that CBD can help: 

• Enhanced Mood. CBD may stabilize mood and aid winter blues by producing the endocannabinoid anandamide, which regulates neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. This makes CBD especially promising for seasonal affective disorder, since scientists often attribute seasonal depression to low serotonin levels resulting from insufficient sunlight and Vitamin D. Because it is thought to support healthy serotonin levels, many customers with SAD turn to CBD as a mood stabilizer.
• Reduced Stress & Anxiety. According to researchers, CBD also regulates neurotransmitters and areas in the brain involved in stress and anxiety. Since anxiety often accompanies and exacerbates depression, this stress-reducing effect may be particularly beneficial for those with SAD.
• Improved Sleep. Often, individuals with SAD experience difficulty falling or staying asleep each night. SAD can disrupt our circadian rhythms, or sleep-wake cycles, which often results in staying up too late or waking up too early each morning. And just as seasonal depression can cause trouble sleeping, poor sleep quality can exacerbate depression and anxiety. Luckily, CBD can improve sleep by regulating our internal body-clock. By stabilizing and balancing sleep wake cycles, CBD can ease seasonal insomnia while improving sleep quality to support a stable mood the next day.

How Can THC Lift the Winter Blues?

THC can also be a great fit for SAD, and individuals report using both hemp THC and marijuana for seasonal depression. Here at Proleve, we offer Delta 8 and Delta 9 products that customers use to target the following concerns and wellness goals: 

• Reduced Mental & Physical Tension. Often, SAD can create anxiety that makes us physically rigid or restless, which can in turn reinforce a stressful mindset. THC is believed to reduce restlessness, while dissolving tension in the body and mind to establish an overall sense of improved well-being.
• Decreased Stress. Many Proleve customers use Delta 8 and Delta 9 products for stress, reporting that THC helps them relax, unwind, and let anxiety melt away. Since stress and anxiety can exacerbate depression, THC’s stress-reducing properties may help those struggling with SAD symptoms. 
• Improved Mood. Many customers use THC for a fast-acting mood boost. Delta 9 improves mood by interacting with areas of the brain involved in the production of dopamine, a “feel-good hormone” that can support feelings of euphoria, pleasure, and well-being. 
• Better Sleep. THC is also popular for improving sleep, helping customers relax and unwind by reducing physical and mental tensions that get in the way of a good night’s rest. 

How to Safely Use THC and CBD for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Though CBD and THC have therapeutic properties that may be relevant to symptoms of SAD, they should never be used to treat or solve seasonal depression instead of first-line treatments and professional help. Whether or not you plan to use CBD or THC to support mental health during the winter months, you should always first and foremost consult a doctor and evaluate conventional treatment options. CBD and THC cannot be used to treat winter depression or any other mental health condition; instead, they offer a way to supplement existing treatments or counseling routines. 

Find CBD & THC products with Proleve

Here at Proleve, we offer CBD and THC products that can be used to boost mood, reduce stress, improve sleep, and more. With a wide variety of CBD product types and CBD dosages for depression, our product line has something to offer for anyone.

If you’re using CBD for symptoms related to SAD, check out the following Proleve products: 

• Calm Collection, featuring a wide variety of CBD proucts that may improve mood and reduce stress associated with the winter blues. 
• Delta 8 and Delta 9 Products, including THC drinks, gummies, tinctures, and edibles that can be helpful for a mood-boost during the winter months.

Interested in using CBD or THC for winter depression? Check out our online shop or contact us today to find the best CBD for a stabilizing mood, reducing stress, improving sleep, and more.