3 ways to get over your winter blues

Pull yourself out of seasonal depression. Seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a depression related to seasonal changes.

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For many of us, it's that time of year when it feels more difficult to get out of bed and commit to daily routines. 

Seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a depression related to seasonal changes—most experienced as the "winter blues." A recent study found that exposure to light therapy can help people fight winter depression, but when resources like that aren't accessible, how do you cope with the blues? 

One Redditor asked: "Have you ever at one point in your life felt like an 'empty shell,' going through the motions of daily life just to get through each day? If so, what helped you get through this phase?"

These were some of the best suggestions:

1. Exercise

For tasty_unicorn_bacon, sh*t hit the fan when their best friend (and best man) killed himself two weeks before the Redditor's wedding:

"The weekend before the wedding we went to his funeral, and we couldn't postpone anything. The entire year after was hell. My now ex-husband plunged into a depression that I couldn't help him with. He broke. I was trying to emotionally support our friend's widow, my severely depressed husband, and myself. Everything in our lives changed drastically. 

After the divorce, I was severely depressed. After dealing with losing a close friend, watching his widow go (understandably) insane, and watching the death of a relationship that I had thought would be for better or worse, I felt like a zombie. My entire social circle had really crumbled and those were some dark, lonely days."

Although they were able to afford therapy, what really helped was taking bike rides:

"My bicycle saved my life. I wasn't able to cry until I hit mile 13 or so on a ride, and I don't know what it was— maybe physically carrying my emotional pain- but those rides were cathartic. I also cut out booze for 6 months. Clearing my head was a great decision. I cried a lot."

Physical activity works wonders for releasing emotions. Hit the gym, start jogging, or grab your bike—get into a different head space to break your cycle of sadness.

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2. Surround yourself with people

Depression often makes us seek solitude, to get away from the stress of other people. But some Redditors found that doing the opposite was a better solution—physical contact can be its own cure.

Redditor Superprattual wrote: 

"I went through my fair share of moments where I felt 'detached' from myself. Later on, I figured out it was depersonalization. I felt like my body was just carrying on the motions of everyday tasks and I was barely any part of it.

One thing that really helped me through this phase was to surround myself with people who made me feel like I was experiencing the whole 'human experience' interaction. Odd as it sounds, physical contact helped me get through this phase more than anything. You wouldn't believe what a long, tight hug could do for you when you really, really need one. Even today, though I'm feeling mostly like myself again, even on the really good days, I always need a good hug." 

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In fact, studies have shown that there is a direct link between hugging and happiness. Hug someone at least eight times a day to improve your happiness and enjoy your relationships more.

3. Help others

One Redditor suggested that doing a kind act and helping someone else might increase how you feel about yourself—and life. PurpleRN wrote: 

"It happens to most people at some point. Some people have longer spates of it than others, but everyone feels that way sometimes.

The thing I have found is the most helpful is going out of your way to do nice things for people who have no way of paying you back or won't feel obligated to you. Volunteer at a food bank. Give a smile and a compliment to a stranger at the mall and just keep walking. Send your grandma flowers.

It's amazing what service to other people will do for helping you leave your shell."

Winter blues may seem insurmountable, but trying small things—like making time for the people you love or committing a small act of kindness—might actually make a difference.

When in doubt, just attack someone with hugs. It works. 

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