It could be more than the winter blues
January is a time of new beginnings. Many of us celebrate New Years Eve with family and friends, saying good-bye to one year and eagerly anticipating the surprises that await us in the next.
Some students easily slip into their new routine without hesitation, while others may find it hard to regain the momentum they felt in the fall. For many people, the shortened days of winter and the harsh, cold weather can make it difficult to find the motivation to even get out of bed in the morning.
This drop in energy may not simply be laziness, but could be a sign of the “winter blues.” Serious fatigue and anxiety could even be a sign of a more serious depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
SAD is a type of winter depression that affects people during December, January and February, even if they have experienced normal mental health throughout the year. The cause of SAD can vary from person to person, but researchers agree that the longer nights of winter disrupt our natural biological clocks. Basically, our bodies are telling us that we should be sleeping when it's dark outside.
For thousands of years, man's life revolved around the cycle of light and dark, day and night. The introduction of electricity has made it possible for people to work at any time of day, at any time of the year. Our biological clocks may still be telling us to “hibernate” for these long winter nights, but our lives and daily routines are no longer dictated by the patterns of the sun.
In Ontario, 20 per cent of people are affected by SAD or some type of winter blues each year. Since SAD tends to affect people over the age of 20, many college students may be experiencing these feelings for the first time.
Some students spend eight hours a day on campus, working in computer labs and study halls with little natural light. Many students have part time jobs at night and on the weekends in shopping malls or restaurants that don't see much daylight either.
These factors, combined with natural feelings of isolation, loneliness, homesickness or anxiety can make college students at particular risk for the affects of SAD.
How would you know if you were suffering from Seasonal Depression or winter blues? First of all, it's important to know the difference. SAD is a mood disorder that occurs in the winter months every year. Which means that you may need to experience the symptoms for consecutive years before your doctor may be willing to make an official diagnosis. Winter blues are more of a mood shift that occurs as the cold weather kicks in and our energy levels decrease.
The symptoms for either condition can include:
- Change or decrease in appetite
- Craving sweets or starchy foods
- Weight gain
- Irritability
- Avoidance of social situations
- Oversleeping
- Difficulty concentrating and processing information
It's not hard to imagine how these symptoms could affect your schoolwork and study habits. Class schedules and assignments are demanding enough without additional fatigue and anxiety.
How can students avoid falling into seasonal depression?
Self-awareness is probably your first and best defense. Pay attention to what you're eating and your sleep habits. Are you skipping morning classes? Are you eating more junk food and “crashing” mid-afternoon? Are you turning down social invitations in favour of staying home on a Friday night? Think about how you behaved before Christmas and how you're acting now. Are friends frequently asking you what's wrong?
Try some of these simple changes to increase the amount of natural light exposure in your daily routine:
- Take a route to class that requires you to leave the building (wear a coat)
- Choose a seat in class that is near the window
- Move your furniture around at home so you are closer to a window when you study
- Add extra lamps at home when you are eating or studying
- Get more exercise
If you find that your feelings of depression are lasting for longer periods, or that exposure to natural light and exercise are not making a difference to your moods it is important that you reach out to your family doctor. If you do not have a family doctor in London, you can visit one of the doctors at the Fowler Kennedy Clinic here at Fanshawe in room SC1001. Call (519)-452-4230 to book an appointment.
There are effective treatments for SAD, including the prescription of light therapies, antidepressant medications and counseling. Fanshawe Counseling Services provides confidential, supportive assistance from professionally trained counsellors for all part-time and full-time students. If you want to discuss your feelings of depression, loneliness or stress, you can contact them at the London Campus in room F2010 or call for an appointment at 519-452-4282.
Some students easily slip into their new routine without hesitation, while others may find it hard to regain the momentum they felt in the fall. For many people, the shortened days of winter and the harsh, cold weather can make it difficult to find the motivation to even get out of bed in the morning.
This drop in energy may not simply be laziness, but could be a sign of the “winter blues.” Serious fatigue and anxiety could even be a sign of a more serious depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
SAD is a type of winter depression that affects people during December, January and February, even if they have experienced normal mental health throughout the year. The cause of SAD can vary from person to person, but researchers agree that the longer nights of winter disrupt our natural biological clocks. Basically, our bodies are telling us that we should be sleeping when it's dark outside.
For thousands of years, man's life revolved around the cycle of light and dark, day and night. The introduction of electricity has made it possible for people to work at any time of day, at any time of the year. Our biological clocks may still be telling us to “hibernate” for these long winter nights, but our lives and daily routines are no longer dictated by the patterns of the sun.
In Ontario, 20 per cent of people are affected by SAD or some type of winter blues each year. Since SAD tends to affect people over the age of 20, many college students may be experiencing these feelings for the first time.
Some students spend eight hours a day on campus, working in computer labs and study halls with little natural light. Many students have part time jobs at night and on the weekends in shopping malls or restaurants that don't see much daylight either.
These factors, combined with natural feelings of isolation, loneliness, homesickness or anxiety can make college students at particular risk for the affects of SAD.
How would you know if you were suffering from Seasonal Depression or winter blues? First of all, it's important to know the difference. SAD is a mood disorder that occurs in the winter months every year. Which means that you may need to experience the symptoms for consecutive years before your doctor may be willing to make an official diagnosis. Winter blues are more of a mood shift that occurs as the cold weather kicks in and our energy levels decrease.
The symptoms for either condition can include:
- Change or decrease in appetite
- Craving sweets or starchy foods
- Weight gain
- Irritability
- Avoidance of social situations
- Oversleeping
- Difficulty concentrating and processing information
It's not hard to imagine how these symptoms could affect your schoolwork and study habits. Class schedules and assignments are demanding enough without additional fatigue and anxiety.
How can students avoid falling into seasonal depression?
Self-awareness is probably your first and best defense. Pay attention to what you're eating and your sleep habits. Are you skipping morning classes? Are you eating more junk food and “crashing” mid-afternoon? Are you turning down social invitations in favour of staying home on a Friday night? Think about how you behaved before Christmas and how you're acting now. Are friends frequently asking you what's wrong?
Try some of these simple changes to increase the amount of natural light exposure in your daily routine:
- Take a route to class that requires you to leave the building (wear a coat)
- Choose a seat in class that is near the window
- Move your furniture around at home so you are closer to a window when you study
- Add extra lamps at home when you are eating or studying
- Get more exercise
If you find that your feelings of depression are lasting for longer periods, or that exposure to natural light and exercise are not making a difference to your moods it is important that you reach out to your family doctor. If you do not have a family doctor in London, you can visit one of the doctors at the Fowler Kennedy Clinic here at Fanshawe in room SC1001. Call (519)-452-4230 to book an appointment.
There are effective treatments for SAD, including the prescription of light therapies, antidepressant medications and counseling. Fanshawe Counseling Services provides confidential, supportive assistance from professionally trained counsellors for all part-time and full-time students. If you want to discuss your feelings of depression, loneliness or stress, you can contact them at the London Campus in room F2010 or call for an appointment at 519-452-4282.
