When the winter months hit, you might hear the term winter blues thrown around online or IRL.
But are the winter blues a real condition?
And if so, what is it about wintertime that makes us feel so down?
Regardless of your condition, its always important to seek professional help when needed.
Dr. Stratyner recommends listening to your mind and body and recognizing when something is off.
You dont have to be alone in this.
You dont have to minimize your symptoms.
Seek out the guidance of the experts if you are not feeling right.
Theres no reason not to talk to your doctor.
What are the winter blues?
For starters, its important to differentiate winter blues from seasonal depression.
What makes something depression is essentially a major depressive episode, says Dr. Stratyner.
What makes it seasonal is that it happens during a period that coincides with certain seasons.
These symptoms are also associated with the winter blues.
However, the biggest difference between the winter blues and seasonal depression comes down to functionality.
The winter blues will be less intense in severity, says Stratyner.
A person with winter blues might still feel occasionally sad, but would it be substantially impacting their functioning?
Not to the same degree.
Regardless of the severity, Dr. Stratyner says all feelings are valid and should be taken seriously.
Certainly, if youre feeling down, thats worth paying attention to, she says.
The winter blues are more mild than seasonal depression.
What causes the winter blues?
This can also impact your sleep, which in turn contributes to feeling not-so-great this time of year.
Less exposure to sunlight disrupts thecircadian rhythm, says Dr. Mitmesser.
And remember, our circadian rhythm is really closely tied to sleep but also mood.
Its really hard to do.
Things can change for people chemically in terms of neurotransmitters and hormones, says Dr. Stratyner.
Hence, the tired and sluggish feeling that can come with the winter blues.
What role does vitamin D play in all of this?
During wintertime you may also hear chatter around vitamin D and vitamin D deficiencies.
Ninety-six percent of our population doesnt get [enough vitamin D], says Dr. Mitmesser.
Think of vitamin D as a helper compound that is synthesizing serotonin.
That said, Dr. Mitmesser clarifies that vitamin D deficiency isnt the sole culprit of your winter blues.
Rather, its a contributing factor.
Think of vitamin D deficiency as compounding an issue, she says.
If Im also not getting enough vitamin D, its compounded, so its making it even worse.
I know that people are looking for things to do about winter blues and seasonal depression, she says.
But I would caution people against saying, Oh well, Im feeling down because its the winter.
Let me take more vitamin D. Thats probably not going to be the right move.
In fact, takingtoo muchvitamin D can actually negatively impact your health.
Certainly, we dont want that happening.
Foods not going to fix everything, she says.
Exercise is not going to fix everything.
You need [to look at] all the different pieces and parts of your lifestyle.
And never hesitate to seek professional help.
You dont have to feel this way during the winter.
No, you will not develop vitamin D toxicity by getting exposure to sunlight, says Dr. Stratyner.
So take a stab at get outside, even if its just briefly.
Even just open your blinds in the morning and venture to get some sun.
Regular exercise is always beneficial, regardless of the season.
Exercise is helpful for anxiety and depression, says Dr. Stratyner.
The increased endorphinsto a reasonable levelhas a positive impact on mood.
If youre wondering if theres anoptimal time to work out, there is.
So think about how youre getting your physical activity.
Sometimes the physical activity isnt just for your body, its also for your mind.
Exercising in the morning can also help you get better sleep.
Exercise is good for sleep hygiene, says Dr. Stratyner.
Can you incorporate more nutrient-rich foodsespecially ones that are higher in vitamin Dinto your diet?
