Seasonal affective disorders or winter blues are more common than you may think. Every year, more than 2 million people in the UK experience them. Winter blues can affect people of any gender, race, or age. However, the symptoms are mostly centered around females and children, making them more vulnerable.
How to recognize winter blues?
These are the key symptoms of winter blues that may suddenly manifest this season.
- Depression
- Sleep disorders
- Unusual fatigue
- Eating disorders
- Excessive irritability
- Unsociability
- Feeling down
10 tips for handling the winter blues
Seasonal affective disorders do not have a fixed pattern; they affect everyone differently. The symptoms and their intensity may vary from person to person. That’s why something that works for someone else may not work for you. Therefore, you must keep trying different things because if one doesn’t work, the other very well may. According to the Click Pharmacy health experts, these 10 tips can help you handle winter blues positively and efficiently.
1. Go on a vacation
Remaining at home, staring at the walls all day or binging on Netflix is sure to cause a downward spiral in the mood. Instead, you should leave the comforts of your home and go on a vacation. Get some fresh air, see new sights, experience new cultures and foods, and enjoy getting frisky with your partner in a new environment. Ignore all excuses and enjoy your life to the fullest. Don’t let incoming periods stand in your way and ruin your vacation.
2. Keep yourself active
If you cannot go on a vacation, simply keeping yourself physically active will help you cope with the winter blues. Go for a morning or evening run in your local park or take an hour-long walk around the block; it will help remove the miasma of depression. Additionally, it will also help keep you physically fit.
3. Get outside the house
Keeping all day and night indoors during the winter holidays is not suitable for mental health. Get out of your house and gain as much sunlight as possible. The bright days are already scarce in winter but do not waste them when they appear. Choose a more bright décor that lets the sunlight filter through numerous windows and glass panels when renovating your home.
4. Keep yourself warm
If the symptoms of winter blues are so bad that you can’t seem to live everyday life, at least keep yourself warm in addition to contacting your GP. Being cold typically makes you more depressed. Keeping yourself warm with an internal heating system, warm clothes, and warm drinks doesn’t just keep the cold away but also invites a celebratory mood.
5. Eat healthy food
A healthy diet is indispensable to keep your spirits up when the winter blues strike. Eating junk food or putting on too much weight tempts depression in a person. It would be best to balance your cravings for unhealthy snacks with healthy food. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, cut down on processed meats and packaged foods.
6. Take up a new hobby
Taking up a new hobby is an excellent method of keeping yourself active during the winter holidays. Most depressive and anxious thoughts that trigger the winter blues happen because of a lack of purpose and excessive time. Therefore, picking up an interesting hobby will not only keep your mind occupied but also keep the blues away. Learn to play a musical device or instrument, start writing a lifestyle blog, or read the latest scientific theories about the mysteries of the universe; just make sure that your newly adopted habit takes you in a positive direction.
7. Meet with your friends and family
Socializing is a healthy activity, especially when it is done with your close friends and family. Gossiping, exchanging news or even just hanging out helps ward off the winter blues. Make sure to remain connected to your loved ones, give out invites for parties or accept invitations when you receive them. Even if it is only for a little while, go and talk to the people that only want the best for you.
8. Talk through your problems
Keeping your emotions locked up tight only hurts you. It is best if you engage in some talking therapies, like psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy or counselling. However, talking through your problems with just a trusted friend or family member is also an excellent choice. See your GP if no option works for you and seek better alternatives. Winter blues are not harmful in the lower intensity. But if they cross a certain threshold, the chances of developing depression or other personality disorders become very high. That’s why organized counselling may help stop their effect on your person.
9. Join a support group
Joining a support group is an excellent way to share your story with like-minded people and learn from their experiences. It is extremely therapeutic to talk with such people. It can make your symptoms more bearable.
10. Seek help from a professional
If your symptoms cross a certain threshold and you cannot handle them on your own, it is better to seek help from a medical professional. Your GP can diagnose if there is an underlying medical condition behind your winter blues and suggest certain treatments. Your counsellor can provide a sympathetic ear and even suggest medication that will help you get over your depression and anxiety.
