photo credit: Ava Mejia
It’s an early Tuesday morning in the middle of January. I can feel the excruciating cold awaiting me outside of my warm bed as the obnoxious alarm clock I got a month ago for Christmas blares in my ears, screaming at me to get up and ready for school.
I want to silence the infuriating noise but can’t seem to muster the energy to reach over to my bedside table. Frustrated, I throw my pillow over my head and begin to feel a heavy dread seep into my stomach.
I think of the long and stressful day ahead of me at school, the exhausting practice I have to go through afterwards, and the pages upon pages of homework I will be subject to once I’m finally home. Only to be topped off by countless hours of darkness, ending late in the morning but returning once again early into the night. Not to mention the miserable temperatures that nip at my nose and make my body shiver every time I step even a foot outside
My eyes begin to tear up against my will and my throat tightens as I try to push down my emotions and quiet every thought in my mind telling how awful of a day it will be. I manage to get out of bed, but the heaviness on my shoulders and the despair in my mind continue to linger.
Every cold, bitter winter, it seems as if each day is a constant battle to make it to the next, and simple tasks feel like impossible feats I have to muster all of my energy for. I have struggled with moderate depression from the age of 11, and my symptoms are only exacerbated by the dreariness of the winter months.
As for others, winter is not just a catalyst for their depressive symptoms but the very reason for them in the first place. This occurrence is known as seasonal depression, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Licensed Mental Health Therapist Brittany Mendenhall has years of experience working with clients who struggle with mental health issues, several of whom have been diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder.
“Seasonal depression is a type of depression that has a seasonal pattern and shows up around the same time every year (usually in the fall and winter). Seasonal depression can make school, work or even basic daily tasks feel harder,” Mendenhall said. “Seasonal mood changes can also happen where we may experience similar symptoms, but symptoms of seasonal mood changes do not impact our day-to-day functioning as much as SAD or general depression.”
Abigail Wykoff is both a senior at the high school and a client of Mendenhall’s who has been diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Having dealt with it for a significant portion of her life, Wykoff has had to learn to navigate the ups and downs of the disorder.
“My seasonal depression usually tends to get worse in mid-January. Once the weather starts to drop and get gloomy, I start to feel a shift, but I can usually make it through December in pretty high spirits because of the holidays,” Wykoff said.
Each person diagnosed with this condition experiences it differently, but there are common symptoms and tell-tale signs of seasonal depression among the people it affects.
Such symptoms include social isolation, lack of energy or motivation, difficulty with concentration and focus, persistent sadness or loss of interest.
“One of the biggest issues that I have with my seasonal depression is my procrastination,” Wykoff said. “I lose a lot of my motivation and general stamina, so completing tasks like school work can become really difficult.”
While the root cause of Seasonal Affective Disorder can be a variety of different triggers, a common understanding among the psychology community is that a lack of vitamin D could be a common contributor.
As the days get shorter and people spend more time indoors, the average person tends to take in significantly less amounts of vitamin D due to minimal sunlight exposure.
“Your body makes vitamin D from sunlight, so when the days get shorter and darker, your levels naturally drop,” Mendenhall said. “And since vitamin D helps your brain make serotonin (the “feel-good” chemical), low levels can make your mood take a hit.”
Depression during the bleak winter months is a difficult battle I and many others face each year, and the effects it has on one’s mental well-being can be incredibly destructive.
However, there are many resources available to those who struggle with the disorder and even in the most difficult chapters of life, there is always hope. “Seasonal depression can feel overwhelming, but small, practical changes can make a real difference and can help your brain and body handle the winter months better,” Mendenhall said. “Predictable and steady sleep, exercise, staying connected with friends and family, eating nutritionally balanced meals, and individual mental health therapy are all ways you can help yourself when struggling with SAD.”
