Originally published in the December 10th, 2021 edition.
Ethan Yates
Contributing Writer
For many of us, the holiday season is a joyous time, but for others, this season harbors emotional challenges as they struggle to maintain their mental well-being. This phenomenon is referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is more than just a slight sadness during the winter and fall months and it affects about 5% of adults in the U.S. Those who have SAD are affected for a big portion of the year and it interferes with their daily lives. College students with this have an especially rough time during the colder months. With finding a good balance between academics and social life, college students feel pressure to get good grades and achieve excellent results. However, depression impacts one’s motivation to do well and instead replaces the drive to learn and succeed with deep sadness and/or emptiness. Having a general depression disorder causes issues in our day-to-day lives, but for people who also suffer from SAD, the intensity of this “void” can become overwhelming and cause people to shut down and lose their willpower. The severity of the dissatisfaction can vary from person to person, but it is still something that must be treated as a serious issue. Taking these disorders lightly can create bigger issues in the future and might affect how those who suffer from the disorder develop coping mechanisms and habits.
There are many ways in which we, as a society, can help to combat this problem. Firstly, we must recognize that there is a problem. By identifying that having Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is an issue, we can begin to take steps to accommodate people who have it. Addressing the issue of SAD can be difficult, especially if the person who has it does not wish to discuss their ailments. However, I encourage anyone who suffers from any mental health disorder to seek out help. Communication, whether with family, friends, medical professionals, etc., has proven to be an effective method at alleviating the burden of these disorders and if talking about it does not help, medications could be an option to help correct the chemical imbalances. Suffering in silence will only feed into the depression, so we must be proactive and take the first necessary steps to fight these disorders off. Other ways to help deal with SAD besides talking are to have a regular bedtime, create a balanced routine and make sure that your emotional and physical health comes first before everything else.
It is easy to feel alone in the world and to isolate yourself, especially during finals week. You should know that you are not alone and that there is an entire community here to support you. Resources are available to help you cope with SAD and other mental disorders and finding friends through social events, clubs and classes can help to lessen that lonely feeling. Dealing with a mental illness, especially SAD, can be a lifetime struggle, but having these outlets and support systems can help us to see the light in every situation.
