Have you been feeling especially down as the daylight hours decrease? You are not alone! What you are feeling is called SAD, or seasonal affective disorder. As the holidays come to an end, seasonal depression is becoming harder to avoid for many. So... what is SAD? SAD is a type of depression that is experienced in a seasonal pattern. This often appears in the fall and winter months. It is typically more prevalent during the winter months and is also referred to as the ‘winter blues’. These ‘winter blues’ are caused by a decrease in serotonin and an increase of melatonin in the body. This disrupts the body's normal rhythm.
Symptoms of SAD
As with many other mental illnesses, the symptoms of SAD vary between individuals. Some common symptoms include;
Low energy
Tiredness
Oversleeping
Losing interest in activities that were once enjoyed
Cravings
Overeating
Feelings of hopelessness or not wanting to live
SAD is not something that should be neglected and brushed aside. It is important to treat SAD as an issue and not some ‘funk’ that needs to be dealt with on your own. It is even more important to manage the symptoms of SAD as students begin the second semester.
How to treat SAD
For many university students, the symptoms of SAD lead to a decrease in motivation for school-related tasks. There are many simple ways in which students can ease these winter blues from their home. Here are some ideas;
1. Stick to a schedule
☺ Sticking to a schedule can help your body slowly adjust to the changing daylight hours,
reduce sleeplessness and tiredness.
☺ Sticking to a regular eating schedule can reduce overeating and cravings.
☺ Sticking to a schedule also helps to maintain consistency which can help with a lack of
motivation for school-related tasks.
2. Get moving!
☺ As with many other mental illnesses, exercise is a great way to keep your mind and body busy!
☺ Exercise also seeks to offset the effects of overeating 3. Keep a journal!
☺ Journalling can help get the negative feeling out of your system
☺ It helps you to identify and visualize the issues you are facing as well as possible triggers for these problems.
This winter season let's try to normalize SAD and end the stigma around these feelings. Stop telling yourself and others that you are just in a ‘funk’ and need to get over it on your own. Take care of yourself always, and even more so during the winter season when SAD is most prevalent for most of us.
Written by Anabella Brock
Edited by Zoey Styres
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