By Emily Robbins
With the season’s first snow already in the past, winter is not far away. While enjoying the last few days of sunshine and mild temperatures is important, a study from the National Institute for Mental Health reports it’s equally vital to brace for the impending gloom of winter weather.
According to the report, about 25 percent of college students suffer from the “winter blues,” a dismal mood which strikes each year during the winter months. Typical symptoms include hypersomnia (sleeping all the time), difficulty thinking creatively, trouble concentrating, a craving for carbohydrates and subsequent weight gain. If these symptoms are coupled with signs of clinical depression, such as feelings of hopelessness or suicidal thoughts, they may be signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
SAD is a more severe form of winter depression some experts say affects 500,000 Americans per year, said Dr. Robert Klein, director of behavioral health at Northeastern University Health and Counseling Services (UHCS).
It’s important to note the difference between SAD and winter blues, Klein said.
“[SAD] is typically mild to moderate in intensity, but it can be quite disabling,” Klein said. “Some sufferers can’t function in school, work or relationships. Those who find themselves particularly depressed should be sure to see their physician.”
Although the biochemical cause of SAD is not known, a possible reason is the decrease in sunlight, Klein said. According to the National Mental Health Association, the sleep-related hormone melatonin is produced in higher quantities when it is dark outside, causing a person to feel sluggish and possibly depressed.
Arielle Blattner, a middler graphic design major, said she enjoys taking photographs of nature covered in snow, but admits to feeling a little downcast when the weather gets too cold.
“It’s dreary and bleak in the winter,” Blattner said. “I feel like hibernating.”
Emmanuel Tellez, a sophomore English major from southern California, said he found his first winter in Boston hard to deal with.
“The most depressing thing about winter is that there’s almost no sunlight,” Tellez said. “That was the biggest shock, that there was no light at 3 or 4 p.m. My first winter was a very educational experience.”
An effort to get more sunlight during the morning hours may help curb the fatigue factor of the winter blues, Klein said.
Students can open their window shades during the morning, take a longer route to class or join a club on campus with an emphasis on outdoor activities. The body will crave carbohydrates, so it is important to choose the right ones, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Eating complex carbohydrates like vegetables, grains and beans is a healthy route.
Possibly one of the easiest ways to chase away the blues is to do so with company, Klein said. Social withdrawal is a symptom of both SAD and the winter blues, but simply spending time with friends can have a positive effect on your mood.
“It is tempting or easy to isolate oneself in the winter,” Klein said. “It’s important to keep connections throughout the year.”
Tellez said this is an important strategy for him.
“Make sure you eat with your friends because one way to forget it’s cold outside is to immerse yourself in the mini-dramas of your friends,” Tellez said.
