Q. Why do people tend to feel so bad at this time of year?
A. Even if you don’t have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), the lack of sunlight leaves most people feeling depleted, and the snow contributes to the feeling of being besieged. People don’t always turn into Jack Nicholson in “The Shining,’’ but staying home a lot can contribute to cabin fever. Psychiatric admissions peak in January, while spring and summer are happiest for most of us.