HEALTH AND WELLNESS
How to Cope During Shorter, Colder Days: Winter Blues versus Clinical Depression
Article by Chet Robachinski, MD, Tina Matthews Hayes, DNP(c), FMP-C, PHMNP-BC, & Kami Harris, PA-C
(BPT) - The winter season can be a challenging time of year for many - one that can bring post-holiday financial stress and exhaustion. Amid darker, colder days, how do you know if you are experiencing the "winter blues" or if it is something more serious? Hear from three mental health experts on the differences between the "winter blues" and clinical depression: Board-Certified Psychiatrist Chet Robachinski, MD, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Tina Matthews Hayes, DNP(c), FMP-C, PHMNP-BC, and Board-Certified Physician Assistant Kami Harris, PA-C.
How do people know if the winter months have them feeling down or if it's something more serious?
Tina Matthews Hayes, DNP: Someone experiencing the "winter blues" has many of the same symptoms of clinical depression or major depressive disorder (MDD). They may lose interest in their hobbies and things that once brought them joy, experience changes in their sleep, appetite or weight, feel an inability to get things done like they normally could, have a constant feeling
of fatigue or a lack of energy.1
While this can be mistaken for clinical depression, "winter blues" symptoms are usually triggered at the onset of the winter season and potentially resolved once spring arrives. Another key difference between "winter blues" and clinical depression is the severity of the symptoms.
What I tell my patients is that if they are noticing any of these signs and symptoms, it is crucial to seek help from their healthcare provider to determine if what they are experiencing is more serious, like clinical depression.