Bipolar Disorder Seasonal Changes: Triggers, Signs, and Coping
TL;DR
Seasonal mood changes are common in bipolar disorder. People living with bipolar disorder may feel depressed, fatigued, or hopeless in the darker winter months. During the spring and summer, a person may experience increased energy and a reduced need for sleep. Recognizing early warning signs and making adjustments in treatment can help.
At a Glance: Bipolar Disorder Seasonal Patterns
Winter: Depression: Oversleeping, low mood, low energy, trouble concentrating, hopelessness
Spring/summer: Hypomania or mania: Less sleep, increased activity, grandiosity, impulsivity
Rapid weather changes: Mixed episodes: Mood swings that feature symptoms of both depression and mania
Have you ever noticed how the changing of the seasons can shift your mood? In the spring, you may feel lighter and more hopeful. When the days start getting darker in the fall, it can weigh you down. For many people diagnosed with bipolar disorder, symptoms can change with the season. Seasonal changes can also affect sleep and energy — two things that can impact bipolar symptoms. Understanding these seasonal patterns can help you recognize early warning signs and take proactive steps to protect your mental health.
How Do Seasonal Changes Affect People With Bipolar Disorder?
If you live with bipolar disorder, you may have noticed that seasonal changes can affect your mental health. Many people notice that dark, winter months trigger depressive symptoms like sadness and social withdrawal, while spring brings with it an increase in energy or hypomania.
Why Seasonal Changes Impact Bipolar Disorder
Circadian Rhythms
When the seasons change, it impacts your circadian rhythm or 24-hour clock (Nature and Science of Sleep, 2018). What is the relationship between circadian rhythm and bipolar disorder? In bipolar disorder, irregular circadian rhythms contribute to bipolar symptoms, as well as episodes of mania and seasonal depression in bipolar disorder, according to research published in Current Psychiatry Reports (2019).
Light Exposure
The reduced sunlight in the fall can trigger depressive symptoms. Researchers have examined hospital records of people with bipolar disorder and noted that in the spring, mania is more common, and in the fall, depression. Many people diagnosed with bipolar disorder have a sensitivity to light changes (The British Journal of Psychiatry, 2024).
The Holidays
For many people, especially those who live with bipolar disorder, the holidays are stressful. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even the New Year can bring stress and expectations that cause mood symptoms to increase.
Extreme Temperatures
The cold weather makes it hard to go outside and exercise. You may be more withdrawn and less social due to cold weather. Snow and ice can make it hard to drive anywhere. All of these things can impact mood.
Which Seasonal Patterns Are Most Common in Bipolar Disorder?
People with bipolar disorder often notice clear patterns in how their symptoms shift throughout the year. While experiences differ from person to person, research and lived experience both point to a few common seasonal triggers.
Winter: Depressive symptoms tend to surface. Shorter days and less sunlight can lead to low mood, oversleeping, low energy, and feelings of hopelessness (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023).
Spring/Summer: Many people notice mania in the spring and summer. The longer days and increase in sunlight may spark mania or hypomania, with less sleep, increased activity, and impulsivity (Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Disorders, 2024).
Rapid changes in light exposure and weather can contribute to mixed episodes. This is where the symptoms of hypomania/mania and depression overlap.
What Are Early Signs of Seasonal Mood Shifts in Bipolar Disorder?
In the fall or winter, you may notice (Chronobiology International, 2017):
Feeling hopeless, worthless, or sad
Sleeping too much
Feeling unusually drained during the darker months
Appetite changes (craving carbs) or weight gain
Suicidal thoughts
A peer-reviewed research study in Translational Psychiatry (2023) found that hypo and manic episodes often increase during warmer months, with increases in the following symptoms:
Racing thoughts (a flood of ideas)
Insomnia or a reduced need for sleep
Feeling restless
Loss of appetite
Irritability or impulsivity
* If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, get help now. Call 911 (or your local emergency services) if you are in immediate danger. In the U.S., you can contact the Crisis Line: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Befrienders Worldwide / International Association for Suicide Prevention offers local crisis lines (and 24/7 chat) worldwide.
What Are Some Coping Strategies for Bipolar Seasonal Changes?
Consistent routines (especially sleep/wake): One of the most important things for preventing seasonal changes and bipolar disorder is to have consistent routines. If you struggle with this, there is a type of therapy that can help. It’s called Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) and was specifically developed for bipolar. It helps stabilize daily routines to support your circadian rhythm and prevent mood episodes (Annals of General Psychiatry, 2020).
Light therapy: Can be helpful for seasonal depression in bipolar disorder. But it should be used cautiously in people who have a history of mania, as it can trigger manic episodes (Psychiatry Research, 2018). Always check with your psychiatrist or provider before trying light therapy.
Medication check-ins: It can be very helpful to check in with your psychiatrist before the seasons change, especially if you notice a subtle change in symptoms. Shifts. Adjustments to bipolar disorder mood stabilizers or other medications may reduce the risk of relapse when the seasons shift.
Psychotherapy: One of the best therapies for bipolar disorder is Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT). It stabilizes circadian rhythms, which can be especially helpful for reducing seasonal patterns (Annals of General Psychiatry, 2020).
Lifestyle strategies: Getting regular physical activity and spending time outdoors can be very helpful for supporting mood regulation. Even spending 10 minutes a day in the sunlight during the winter months can give you a boost in mood. That’s because it boosts neurotransmitters in the brain that have to do with mood (Cleveland Clinic, 2025).
When Should Someone With Bipolar Disorder Seek Help for Seasonal Mood Shifts?
If you have bipolar disorder, then you probably know how quickly things can spiral out of control. As soon as you notice mood changes, or changes in your sleep, appetite, and energy levels.
Taking action early can make a real difference, since research shows that timely treatment reduces the severity and relapse risk of episodes (National Institute of Mental Health, 2024).
Key takeaway: Seasonal mood changes in bipolar disorder are common, and they don’t have to take you by surprise. By planning ahead with your psychiatrist and other providers, keeping consistent routines, and using the right tools, you can stay stable through seasonal changes.
FAQs
Is it normal for bipolar symptoms to shift with the seasons?
Yes, bipolar symptoms can change with the seasons. In winter, people might notice more depressive symptoms and manic symptoms in the spring and summer.
Should people with bipolar disorder use light therapy?
People diagnosed with bipolar disorder should use light therapy with caution since it can trigger manic symptoms.
What lifestyle habits protect stability during seasonal changes?
Keeping a consistent sleep and wake schedule is one of the most important lifestyle changes you can make for bipolar disorder.
Sources & notes
Nature and Science of Sleep (2018). Impact of seasons on an individual’s chronotype. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6217906/
Current Psychiatry Reports (2019). Treating Circadian Rhythm Disruption in Bipolar Disorder, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6812517/.
The British Journal of Psychiatry (2024). Sensitivity to light in bipolar disorder, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7615859/.
National Institute of Mental Health (2023). Seasonal Affective Disorder, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder.
Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Disorders (2024). Bipolar Disorder and Climatic Factors, https://www.mediresonline.org/article/bipolar-disorder-and-climatic-factors?
Chronobiology International (2017). Bipolar disorder with seasonal pattern. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5225270/.
Translational Psychiatry (2023). Seasonality of brain function. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-023-02365-x
Annals of General Psychiatry, 2020. Efficacy of the interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) in patients with bipolar disorder. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7061484/
Psychiatry Research, 2018. Rate of switch from bipolar depression into mania after morning light therapy. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29348073/
Cleveland Clinic, 2024, How the Outdoors can Improve your Mood. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2024/04/09/how-the-outdoors-can-improve-your-mood
