Spring depression is trickier than winter SAD.

Yes, it’s real — and the symptoms are different from the winter version.

Spring-onset seasonal depression (sometimes called reverse SAD) doesn’t look like the classic hibernation slump. Instead of wanting to sleep all day and eat carbs, you might feel agitated, anxious, irritable, or just off. Trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, and a restless kind of low energy are common. The extra daylight can actually feel overwhelming, not uplifting.

Coping means accepting that more sun isn’t automatically a fix for everyone. Try morning light exposure right when you wake up, but limit bright light in the evenings. Stick to a consistent sleep schedule even when it stays light later. Exercise helps — but outside early, not at peak brightness. If the anxiety or irritability sticks around for more than two weeks, talk to a doctor. Melatonin or a low-dose antidepressant might help bridge the transition.

If the shift into spring feels harder than it should, that’s worth paying attention to, not pushing through.