More Than the Winter Blues: The Science and Treatment of Depression
2026-11-04
Video
More Than the Winter Blues: The Science and Treatment of Depression
The winter months can bring more than colder weather and shorter days. For many people, this time of year can make depression symptoms harder to manage. But depression is much more than the winter blues, and the science behind it is more complex than a simple chemical imbalance.
In this episode, Dr. Michael Koren talks with psychiatrist Dr. Heather Luing about the science of depression, how seasonal changes can affect mood, and when it's time to seek professional help. They explore lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, antidepressants, light therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), vagus nerve stimulation, ketamine, and emerging treatments being investigated through clinical research.
They also discuss why traditional antidepressants don't work for everyone, how new treatment approaches are expanding options, and why there's reason for hope in the future of depression care.
In this episode:
- Why the holiday season and shorter days can be difficult for some people
- What distinguishes major depressive disorder from everyday mood changes
- How sleep, exercise, nutrition, and time in nature can support mental health
- The limitations of the traditional serotonin-based approach to depression
- How TMS, light therapy, and vagus nerve stimulation work
- Emerging medications, ketamine, and psychedelic research
- How clinical trials are helping advance depression treatment
- When to seek help and how to support someone experiencing depression
If you're struggling, help is available. Call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for mental health or substance use support.
|
|
