The fall and winter months can be very difficult for students. The days can seem long, with nothing to do after school and motivation hard to come by. Seasonal Affective Disorder(SAD) is one of the reasons that winter months can be hard mentally.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Guidance counselors Katie RietKerk and Michelle Burkey both highlighted that it is a result of a lack of Vitamin D during winter months that can lead people into a depressive state or even anxiety. The lack of Vitamin D is due to the fact that there is much less sunshine during the fall and winter than during spring and summer. This can be amplified by the fact that we live in “one of the cloudiest areas in the US in terms of the amount of sunlight we get in the winter,” Mrs. RietKerk said. Some signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder include feeling sluggish, isolating yourself, having trouble finding motivation, and overall feeling down among other things. 

How do you know if you have Seasonal Affective Disorder?

 Both RietKerk and Burkey emphasized the importance of a professional diagnosis of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or any other mental health related matter. 

“A diagnosis is important if self help isn’t working”, RietKerk said, “they can give you ideas and strategies beyond just the self help. “Beyond a professional diagnosis, both counselors highlighted the value of self analysis. It is important to pay attention to how you’re feeling and what may be some triggers for mood swings and a change in feelings. 

Another important aspect of Seasonal Affective Disorder is the longevity of it. Everyone has hard days, however when there are weeks of bad days that is a sign of Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

What are some ways to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder? 

While Seasonal Affective Disorder can be a difficult experience, the good news is that there are ways to deal with it. It was obvious between RietKerk and Burkey that physical activities are one of the best mood boosters. They both stressed how beneficial a healthy lifestyle is. “If your diet is poor, your Mental Health can follow,” said RietKerk. She also mentioned the light lamp that she has in her room that provides Vitamin D when there is a lack of sunlight. Burkey mentioned the benefits of sitting near a window. “Sometimes sunshine is an immediate mood move lifter,” Burkey said. Another way to combat feeling down in the winter months is to change up your environment. “If you’re finding that you’re spending a lot of time in your bedroom and unable to get out of bed, look at your environment. You could open your blinds and you’ll get some natural light,” Burkey said. 

As exam time creeps up, it is important to keep in mind some of the strategies mentioned and prioritize mental health during the stressful times that high school brings.

This article appeared in the February edition of The East Vision.