It is that time of the year again. The air is cold, days are shorter and a familiar friend creeps back up into existence–seasonal depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is often dismissed as the winter blues, but what most people do not know is that it is a genuine struggle.
With roughly 3 million US cases per year, this disorder is usually self-diagnosed. Although no testing is required, it can still be treated by a medical professional.
Some people may call this disorder foolish or say that it is just an excuse to be lazier during the winter, but to others, being sad is no joke.
“Seasonal Depression has affected me in more ways than just one,” Mica Kazemba said. “As the days get shorter, the stress piles up and adds on more responsibilities than I can sometimes handle.”
Kazemba usually starts feeling a little under the weather around the end of October. He can tell his seasonal depression is starting up when he loses motivation and stops going to the gym as much.
Most people, like Kazemba, usually feel this way around the Fall-Winter seasons. The weather’s temperature dipping and the extended darkness leave most people feeling more drained and unhappy.
“When the days get darker and the UV starts to decline, I sleep more and isolate myself,” Harmony Williams said. “The feeling is almost like a hopeless loneliness.”
Both Willaims and Kazemba mentioned that this disorder affects their school lives too. The motivation to do schoolwork and turn in assignments can be challenging, even on a good day. With the constant fatigue and pressure that comes with seasonal depression, grades seem to drop and leave a tiring game of “catch up” for teens later.
Based on personal experience, during the Fall to Winter semester, my grades started to drop, leaving me with piles of stress. Finding the motivation to study and do my work is challenging most of the time.
Whereas during the Spring to Summer semester, it is easier to do work and my motivation is higher. I am more energetic during the day and do not feel as gloomy. It feels like a weight off of the shoulders.
Aside from schoolwork, another rough patch of seasonal depression is maintaining a social life. Trying to be social during this time gets hard. Most people isolate themselves or feel there is no time to keep socializing.
“I usually make up excuses not to go places or just nap,” Williams said.
Williams, among many others, tend to distance themselves and make peace out of the silence. Most teens prefer to be alone during the dark times, and going out just feels like more of a chore.
“Usually, when I’m feeling this way, I go to the gym and lift with some friends or even by myself,” Kazemba said.
While Kazemba goes to the gym to help with his seasonal depression, Williams cleans. These are the two most common activities people have said that help them with their seasonal depression.
Cleaning up my room and making the environment look better helps my mindset during these times, and working out helps my motivation.
Seasonal depression is more severe than people realize and is far from just an excuse to be lazier during the winter seasons. Seasonal Depression affects millions of people all over the US and is a severe disorder that should be taken seriously.
