During the winter months, many people struggle to find the same motivation and joy that comes more naturally in warmer seasons. The cold winds, overcast skies and early sunsets start to creep into people’s minds, lowering their mood along with the temperature.
This phenomenon, known to psychologists as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or simply “seasonal depression,” is an extremely common struggle. How do students at Northwestern State University of Louisiana cope with this experience, and how can we approach others and ourselves with more kindness and understanding as we face these difficulties?
In order to triumph over seasonal depression, it is crucial to recognize the early signs. A shift in demeanor as the weather changes might be indicative of a larger problem. Signs vary from person to person, but some patterns emerge.
“Whenever there’s not a lot of sun, I tend to get really sad and just unmotivated,” Valentine Williams, a sophomore liberal arts major, said. “I guess I just start to feel myself going into a stasis and thinking like, ‘Oh, it’s over, like I can’t make it.’”
Sometimes the signs are more subtle. Some people do not notice drastic changes in mood, but instead find difficulty with tasks. SAD can be characterized by a change in functionality during winter.
Holland LaGrone, a freshman music education major, said, “You start to notice it when your basic human tasks, the things that should come easily and are on autopilot, start to become difficult. For some people, basic hygiene is the first thing to go, and sometimes it’s getting up and going to class.”
Noticing these changes in yourself or loved ones can be concerning. However, hope is far from lost. Although seasonal depression may feel like a long burden, it is inevitable that the sun will come out again.
“There’s no cure, but there will be better moments. It will get worse, but there will be moments when it gets better,” Joshua Noyola, a senior music performance major, said.
But what about in the meantime? How can we succeed as students and human beings while it feels like the planet is literally against us? Sometimes, you just can’t excel while dealing with a mental health struggle. At that point, the important thing is to have patience with yourself and tackle small, manageable things before daunting tasks.
“Make sure just the bare minimum gets done, if that’s what it takes for you to stay afloat during this period of your life,” LaGrone advised.
It is also important to remember the cause behind SAD. While facing it, SAD might make you feel like things truly are dark and hopeless; however, reminding yourself of the scientific origin of the affliction might make you feel more in control. Seasonal depression is not a personal failing, but a chemical shortcoming as a result of the weather.
“It has a lot to do with the time changing,” LaGrone said, “and I think it’s the fact that vitamin D and sunlight have a lot to do with our mental health. A lot of it comes with the cold weather and it gets dark very early in the day, and that has some wear and tear on the brains of young students.”
To reduce this wear and tear, the mind requires special care. The effects of SAD can be minimized by doing the right activities.
“I just try to find more fun things to do inside during the winter,” Noyola said. “Like sleepovers with friends.”
Williams suggested addressing the bodily causes of the condition. “Whenever there is any sun, take advantage of that. Take vitamin D supplements, and possibly look into purchasing a lamp that is meant to emulate sunlight, they actually make lamps for seasonal affective disorder,” Williams said.
Mental health struggles are becoming less stigmatized among our generation, but we still have a long way to go. If you notice signs of seasonal affective disorder in yourself or a friend, remember to approach the situation with gentleness. Remember that it is not a moral failing to be a little less “productive” than usual. Trust in the natural fluctuation of the seasons and of personal wellness.
