by Abby Clack

Winter blues. We all see them coming, and it’s not even really winter. The blues are normally caused by the lack of Vitamin C, which we get from the sun. Dr. Matthew Rudorfer, a mental health expert at News in Health says, “Winter blues is a general term, not a medical diagnosis. It’s fairly common, and it’s more mild than serious. It usually clears up on its own in a fairly short amount of time.” 

Here are some ways to fight the winter blues:

1. Drink warm tea. I love a good tea… that’s it. 
2. Relax. Take a nap or even just sit around and relax. Maybe yoga! 
3. Watch a movie. I really enjoy the 90’s classics when I’m feeling down. Just watch 10 Things I Hate About You and you’ll feel better.
4. Hang out with friends. Go to the mall and just walk around. Go get coffee! 
5. Read a good book. If you need some good ones here you go: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King. 

If this seasonal upset becomes too much to handle, you may have SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. “Seasonal affective disorder, though, is different. It’s a well-defined clinical diagnosis that’s related to the shortening of daylight hours,” says Rudorfer. “It interferes with daily functioning over a significant period of time.” Look for these symptoms if you think you may have SAD:

Signs & Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Irritability

• Loss of energy

• Changes in appetite or sleep

• Weight gain or loss

• Hopelessness

• Trouble concentrating