Understanding Maternal Mental Health And Support Options In Winter
After the holiday season, when winter sets in, many people notice a difference in how they feel. Especially if you live in a city like Chicago, the cold weather, dark mornings, and quieter routines can have a real effect on our energy and mood. For those going through pregnancy, postpartum, or fertility struggles, these months can bring up emotions that might feel unexpected.
We see this every year. The lowered sunlight, the letdown after the holidays, and a lack of outside activity can all work together to create an emotional funk. If you’re feeling more tired, alone, anxious, or sad this season, know that you’re not the only one. There are ways to feel more supported and cared for.
Working with a maternal mental health therapist might be one of those ways. We offer tools and space to help people make sense of what they’re feeling, especially when emotions start to blur or build up. Let’s take a closer look at what happens during winter and how it connects with maternal mental health.
Understanding Maternal Mental Health Through Seasonal Change
During winter, the days become shorter and the skies stay gray. Without as much natural light, it’s common for energy levels and mood to shift. In fact, there is a diagnosis for this called Seasonal Affective Disorder, which involves major depressive episodes occurring during a specific season (usually winter). Even for those who feel okay during this time, winter can bring a noticeable dip in mood and energy.
When people are also experiencing hormonal shifts during or after pregnancy, the season’s effect can feel stronger. Some of the common emotional and mental challenges we see during this time include:
Feeling more irritable, moody, or weepy
Difficulty connecting with partners, children, or friends
Increased anxiety or worry, especially at night
Trouble sleeping or feeling rested
It’s important to know the difference between what many call "winter blues" vs. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or Major Depressive Disorder. Feeling a little slower in winter can be normal. But if sadness sticks around for more than a couple of weeks, or if it becomes hard to manage daily tasks, that may signal something more serious. Learning to name these patterns is one of the first steps to feeling more in control.
Why Winter Can Make Mental Health Feel Harder
Winter doesn't only affect how the body feels, it can also change day-to-day life. It cuts out routines people rely on. Going for a walk, seeing friends in person, or just getting outside feels harder when you need to bundle up and it's dark by 5 p.m.
Some ways winter can impact mental health include:
Less movement and fewer reasons to get out of the house
Isolation, especially for new parents who are already spending more time indoors
Stress from holidays, family events, and unclear boundaries
Financial pressures after gift-giving or unpaid time off
Guilt for wishing the time away
For many, parenting in winter adds extra stress. Sleep might already be broken, more time is spent inside with children, and emotional needs get pushed to the side. These changes can make it harder to feel grounded or joyful.
Support Options From a Maternal Mental Health Therapist
Getting help from a maternal mental health therapist often means sitting with someone who understands how complex this phase of life can be. Therapy during winter can bring relief when things feel heavy or overwhelming. You don’t have to explain everything perfectly. You don’t need to have a plan. You just need a space where it’s safe to speak honestly.
Therapists who focus on maternal health offer different types of support, including:
Talk therapy that helps identify emotions and tolerate uncomfortable thoughts
Guidance through big transitions such as childbirth, grief, or fertility treatment
Emotional check-ins, even when things feel generally “fine” but off
We provide both in-person and secure teletherapy services, making support accessible across Chicago and several other states. Our clinicians have specialized training in managing perinatal and postpartum mental health challenges, which means we understand the unique needs faced in these seasons of life.
Therapy is more than fixing problems. It’s about building awareness and coping tools that grow stronger over time. During winter, that kind of consistency matters. Having one place to show up and feel seen can help settle the constant swirl of thoughts that colder months tend to bring.
Choosing the Right Kind of Support for You
Not everyone needs the same kind of care. Some people want regular one-on-one sessions to process personal feelings. Others might find comfort sharing space in a group. Some parents feel more supported when they attend couples therapy and work through parenting changes together.
At Nurture Therapy, our support options are flexible, offering individual, couples, and group counseling. Our practice also customizes approaches to each stage of the reproductive journey, including fertility, pregnancy, and the postpartum period.
What happens in the first session? A lot of listening, a little exploring, and no pressure. You don’t have to know exactly what you’re looking for. That’s what the space is for, to figure things out piece by piece.
Here’s how you might know it’s time to talk to someone:
You’re feeling persistently down, anxious, or stuck
You’ve lost interest in things that once mattered to you
You feel disconnected from your baby, partner, or yourself
You’re having trouble managing daily life, and it’s lasting longer than you expected
These signals are quieter in winter but more intense. Paying attention to them, and allowing support, is one way to care for your future self.
When You’re Seen and Understood: Moving Forward Together
The harder months don’t always announce themselves with big drama. Often, it creeps in slowly. You might move through your days feeling okay on the outside, but inside, something feels out of sync, even heavy. That weight doesn’t always go away on its own.
What changes things is being seen and heard in a space that feels steady. When you’re met with warmth instead of judgment, and when someone helps you name what feels blurry, life starts to open up again. With the right support, staying grounded, even when the ground feels frozen, becomes possible.
If you’re finding emotions harder to handle this winter, reaching out for professional support can make the season feel less isolating. Whether you're coping with postpartum adjustments, loss, or juggling daily stress, we are here to help you process the full spectrum of emotions that come with parenting, fertility, and seasonal transitions. Connecting with a maternal mental health therapist can make life's challenges feel more manageable. When you're ready, reach out and take the next step with us.