Seasonal sadness is a common condition. As many as 10-20 percent of the population suffers from it. Younger people are at an even higher risk of developing seasonal sadness. The other term for seasonal sadness is “SAD,” which stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder.
SAD is caused by less sunlight and shorter days that cause a chemical change in the brain. People with depression or SAD often have increased levels of monoamine oxidase. This enzyme breaks down key neurotransmitters, resulting in very low serotonin levels, which deal with happiness and memory.
SAD can cause the following symptoms: increased sleep and daytime drowsiness, grouchiness and anxiety, feelings of guilt and hopelessness, etc. Some ways SAD can be treated are exposure to sunlight, spending time outside, antidepressants, and therapy.
As most students know, moods change with the seasons. It gets darker quicker and colder in the mornings, and for many, the change in the season is enough to depress their mood. Students can see the people around them start to struggle through the fall. Burnout is a big factor in school in the fall as midterms, college applications, the ACT, and the SAT start to approach.
One way to cope with seasonal sadness is to allocate more time to your schedule, whether that is school or sports. As fall approaches, your body just starts to really feel tired due to less sunlight, which yields less serotonin production. To help yourself out, set your alarm five minutes early and use the five minutes to get up and slowly mentally prepare for your day. Waking up slowly will make your days less stressful and give you time to wake up for school.
Most importantly, don’t forget to lean on your support system. Family members, loved ones, and even coworkers are good people to surround yourself with when you’re down. It’s important to remember that you are not alone in this struggle. Not only family but comforting yourself when feeling down. You can do this by doing your favorite thing or taking a warm bath. Doing things for yourself can help you mentally.
In an interview with a junior at Lafayette, they said that spending time with siblings helped them feel less alone. This shows that being around loved ones is beneficial during this struggle. SAD is a condition people should be aware of. Being aware of this condition can help many people around you, maybe even you.
