Winter is Coming and so is SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
Less daylight, more melancholy
BY RACHEL HOPPE WITH ART BY BROOKE LAMBRECHT
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been a huge advocate for Minnesota autumn and winter. There’s something immensely magical about throwing on a sweater and a beanie to go walk under a canopy of red and orange leaves. All throughout summer, I’d romanticize the colder months, the time to curl up with a good book, mug of hot chocolate, and cozy blanket. Trips to the pumpkin patch with friends, with the addition of costume parties over Halloween in the evenings, guaranteeing a night full of laughter as we walk home in the crisp air. It’s truly my favorite time of year.
But then the summer actually turns to fall; the sun starts to set at seven PM, then six. Suddenly the sun has taken a permanent position behind the clouds, creating an overcast shadow over campus. The reality of fall sets in—it’s cold, dreary, and dimly lit, a stark contrast to my autumn romanticization. My stomach feels heavy and my mood takes a general shift for the worse as I begin to prepare for the long, cold, sunless months.
The reality of autumn is an unfortunate precursor to the season that solidifies the pit of dread in my stomach: winter. If the sun setting at seven wasn’t bad enough, now it’s pitch black by 6 p.m. and the streets are covered in a layer of half-melted slush.
The advent of winter leads me to become a raging pessimist. The abrupt seasonal shift causes everything to suck, and there’s no way to improve my soured mood.
The harsh weather and lack of sun isn’t the only thing that puts a damper on my well-being. Without fail, winter always holds the moments where my life has taken a temporary turn for the worse. The minute the cold begins to sting my nose, my already hopeless mood is intensified by the painful memories that creep into my consciousness. The combination of the lack of sunshine mixed with reminders of my past misfortunes does nothing but further perpetuate my hopeless attitude. The leafless and snow-covered trees slice into the gray sky the same way my stress and anxiety juts into my own life.
In a vain attempt to keep my mind off my poor mood, I generally end up throwing myself headfirst into any work I can get my hands on. Whether it be homework or a personal project, I can’t help but use it as a way to not think about how hopeless I feel the minute the first snowflake hits the ground.
However, This plan usually backfires almost immediately. By avoiding confrontation with these negative emotions, I continue to feel hopeless, not just because a blanket of snow is preventing me from seeing any green, but because I also have so many deadlines that I struggle to keep up with.
That being said, there are certainly ways to avoid the familiar sadness that’s come to be associated with the winter months. Clearly it’s something that I still struggle to work into my own routine, but even taking a few minutes a day to implement new habits can possibly lead to a better morale surrounding seasonal affective disorder overall.
First and foremost, finding someone you’re comfortable talking to about your emotions can be a great stress reliever. Whether that be enrolling in therapy or talking to a trusted friend, finding an outlet to talk about feelings of hopelessness can make all the difference. Another technique I’ve found relieving is maintaining a regular sleep schedule. This is something I, along with the majority of college students struggle with, but the days I’m able to get those essential eight hours of rest boost my mood completely. Lack of sleep leads to a myriad of struggles, as well as emphasizing pre-existing symptoms of SAD.
While these aren’t permanent fixes to seasonal affective disorder, making conscious efforts to improve your mood is a small way to fight against SAD. Frankly, I don’t have all the answers, but these techniques have provided me with a little solace in the colder months.