The days are getting shorter as we approach late fall, and many people are starting to feel depressed due to less sunlight and cooler weather.

Mental health experts call it seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder.

“Seasonal affective disorder tends to revolve around any type of change in mood, stress or anxiety that has a seasonal component,” said Dr. Adam Borland, a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

According to Dr. Borland, symptoms of seasonal affective disorder can include feelings of sadness, lack of energy, and excessive sleeping.

He explained that our overall mood can take a hit during the colder months, as we tend to stay indoors more and socialize less.

To help combat seasonal depression, Dr. Borland suggests regularly spending time with friends and loved ones.

In addition to staying social, make sure you get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and eat a healthy diet.

Dr. Borland added that you also want to find ways to enjoy the outdoors this time of year, especially on sunny days.

You can even try a light therapy lamp when you’re indoors.

“I am a big proponent of light therapy. I encourage many of my patients to start using it now rather than waiting for seasonal depression symptoms to appear,” Dr. Borland said.

Importantly, Dr. Borland emphasized that it is important to seek help from a mental health professional if the symptoms of seasonal depression begin to have a significant impact on your daily life.