When the winter months hit, you might hear the term “winter blues” thrown around online or IRL. Most of us can relate to this concept, even if you don’t fully know what the winter blues entail. Taking information from the name alone, winter can make us feel “blue,” bringing about negative emotions like sadness and anxiety.
But are the winter blues a real condition? And if so, what is it about wintertime that makes us feel so down?
According to Dr. Alexandra Stratyner, Ph.D., co-founder of Stratyner & Associates Psychology, the winter are blues are very real, but should not be confused with another popular term used around this time of year: seasonal depression.
“’Winter blues’ is not so much a clinical term, but essentially, what we’re talking about when people have winter blues is what some might call low-grade depression,” says Dr. Stratyner. “In other words, the winter blues are depressive symptoms that are seasonal in nature, but don’t meet full criteria for seasonal depression, which is a major depressive disorder that happens to coincide with certain times of the year.”
Regardless of your condition, it’s always important to seek professional help when needed. Dr. Stratyner recommends listening to your mind and body and recognizing when something is off.
“If you’re not feeling right, I encourage people not to take it into their own hands,” Stratyner says. “You don’t have to be alone in this. You don’t have to minimize your symptoms. Seek out the guidance of the experts if you are not feeling right. There’s no reason not to talk to your doctor.”
Ahead, everything you need to know about the winter blues, including causes, symptoms, and tips.
What are the winter blues?
For starters, it’s important to differentiate winter blues from seasonal depression. According to Dr. Stratyner, two general criteria must be met to be diagnosed with seasonal depression, though people can experience additional symptoms.
“What makes something depression is essentially a major depressive episode,” says Stratyner. “What makes it seasonal is that it happens during a period that coincides with certain seasons. When someone is dealing with a seasonal type of depression, they may have what we call anhedonia, which is a reduction in the ability to experience pleasure from things that you’ve previously found pleasurable.”
Other symptoms of seasonal depression include: increased tearfulness, feelings of guilt or shame, hopelessness, difficulty sleeping, increased feelings of fatigue or increase in sleep, and difficulty with appetite or increased appetite.
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? No. Not to the same degree.”
Regardless of the severity, Dr. Stratyner says all feelings are valid and should be taken seriously. “Certainly, if you’re feeling down, that’s worth paying attention to,” she says. “But it’s not a degree of sadness that is impacting your work functioning, school functioning, social functioning, your ability to care for yourself. The winter blues are more mild than seasonal depression.”
What causes the winter blues?
Dr Susan Mitmesser, Ph.D., nutritionist and chief science officer at Pharmavite, describes the winter blues similarly to Dr. Stratyner, calling the condition “less clinical” and “often triggered by a shorter day” for those affected by daylight savings.
