The Winter Blues Are a Real Thing—Here's How to Manage Them

glamour.com:

, co-founder of , the winter are blues are very real, but should not be confused with another popular term used around this time of year: .“'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.For starters, it's important to differentiate winter blues from seasonal depression.