Jonquilyn Hill

Like, the days are getting longer, but I am feeling like, uh, can winter please be over?

Please, please, please, now.

Five months really is a long time to struggle.

But there are things you can do to help bring back the sun.

That's up next.

We're back with Explain It To Me.

I'm J.Q., and I'm talking with Dr. Kelly Rowan, a professor of psychological science at the University of Vermont.

And she says that while we can't change the seasons, there are things we can do.

Let's start with light therapy.

What is that?

How does that work?

What does it do?

You mentioned how antidepressant medications can help, just like when you're treating depression year-round.

There's also cognitive behavioral talk therapy, which you've actually adapted specifically for seasonal affective disorder.

OK, so another thing I hear about is the benefits of vitamin D supplements, especially if you live in a place that's less than sunny.

A listener called us about that.

Is there anything people can do like in say September or October to get ahead of all of this?

Like what can we do throughout the year to prepare our bodies for this time?

Up next, what if the key to beating the winter blues is to embrace them?

I'm JQ, this is Explained to Me, and this is Keri Leibovitz.