Finding Light in the Season: Supporting Women of Color Veterans Through Seasonal Depression

As the days grow shorter and the weather turns colder, many people experience a noticeable shift in mood, energy, and motivation. For women of color veterans, this seasonal transition can feel especially heavy.

The intersection of military service, cultural expectations, family responsibilities, and lived experiences with systemic stressors can intensify seasonal depression. Recognizing this reality is the first step toward reclaiming balance and well-being during the winter months.

Seasonal depression is not a personal failure or a lack of resilience. It is a real and valid response to changes in light, routine, and environment. Veterans are often conditioned to push through discomfort, but healing requires something different: awareness, self-compassion, and intentional care.

Understanding the Weight of the Season

For many women of color veterans, winter can amplify feelings of isolation. Reduced sunlight, fewer social interactions, and disrupted routines can trigger fatigue, low mood, difficulty concentrating, and changes in sleep or appetite.

Past trauma, including experiences of harassment, combat exposure, or prolonged stress during service, may resurface when the body senses imbalance.

Cultural norms that emphasize strength and caregiving for others can make it harder to acknowledge personal struggle or ask for support.

Naming this experience without judgment is powerful. Seasonal depression does not erase your strength or your service. It is simply a signal that your mind and body are asking for care.

Wellness Tips for the Winter Season

The following wellness practices are designed to be realistic, supportive, and adaptable to your daily life:

• Prioritize light exposure. Natural light supports mood regulation. Sit near windows during the day, take short walks outside when possible, or use indoor lighting that mimics daylight in the morning hours.

  
  

• Nourish your body intentionally. Warm, balanced meals can be grounding during winter. Focus on whole foods, adequate hydration, and limiting excessive caffeine or sugar, which can worsen mood swings.

  
  

• Create gentle routines. Structure can feel comforting, but rigid schedules can increase stress. Choose one or two daily anchors, such as morning reflection, stretching, or an evening wind-down ritual.

  
  

• Move in ways that feel safe and supportive. Movement does not have to be intense. Stretching, yoga, dancing, or walking can help release tension and support emotional regulation.

  
  

• Protect your emotional energy. Limit exposure to news, social media, or environments that heighten stress. Give yourself permission to rest without explanation.

  
  

• Stay connected to community. Reach out to another woman veteran, attend a virtual gathering, or engage in spaces that affirm your identity and lived experience.

  
  

• Reconnect with cultural grounding. Music, prayer, meditation, storytelling, or creative expression rooted in your culture can be deeply healing and restorative.

  
  

Breaking the Silence Around Mental Health

Women of color veterans often face barriers to mental health care, including stigma, limited access to culturally responsive providers, and mistrust of institutions. Seeking support is not a weakness. It is an act of self-respect and leadership.

If seasonal depression begins to interfere with daily life, connecting with a mental health professional or a trusted community organization can provide relief and guidance.

If you ever feel overwhelmed, hopeless, or unsafe, immediate support is available. The Veterans Crisis Line can be reached by calling or texting 988 and selecting the option for veterans. Confidential help is available at any time.

A Closing Word of Affirmation

To every woman of color veteran reading this: your service matters, your story matters, and your well-being matters. Winter may dim the days, but it does not diminish your purpose or your light.

Healing is not linear, and you do not have to navigate this season alone. Choosing care, connection, and compassion is a continuation of your strength, not a departure from it.