ARE YOU SAD?
Seasonal Depression in Humboldt County By Christina Mehr Your mood darkens, you can’t get out of bed and hopelessness surrounds you as you lose touch with your friends and loved ones. This is what depression can feel like for some. Seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, affects many students, especially at the collegiate level. Seasonal or “winter” depression occurs in the wintertime due to the lack of sunlight and vitamins the body receives. Why do our bodies go into hibernation mode when we are not exposed to sunlight as often? Is there a link between seasonal depression, the drop in temperature and increased cloud coverage, and if so, why does it hit students so hard?
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the sun. Dr. Scott Carroll at Ayna Neuroscience Institute said that The degree we feel these symptoms differs from person to person, but this issue affects us all. “Students diagnosed with depression are more at risk to fall victim to
also believes that places farther north with persistent cloud cover, like in Humboldt County, are linked to lower energy levels as well as sad and irritable emotions during the winter. Diving deeper into the stories of some current students from around California, allows for an inside look at how seasonal depression affects them and their workflow.
As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, our bodies receive fewer stimulants from the sunlight, in turn making us suffer from symptoms of moodiness, irritability, sleeping too much, and low energy.
Think of your body as a plant. Plants can’t flourish to their full beauty and potential without a little help from
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the chemical effects of the weather changing,” said Carroll. It can affect motivation, study habits and productivity, all things that are critical to the success of a college student. Carroll
Em Woods, a student here at Cal Poly Humboldt struggles with depression and bipolar disorder, and the cold weather can increase certain emotions. Colder weather makes me more sad. I have less motivation to do simple tasks including homework or things that would benefit me,” Woods said.
Originally, they came to Northern California for the beautiful scenery, but explained that since coming here from the central valley, they have felt more depressed to a certain extent.
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Perhaps the simplest treatment is to increase your sunlight exposure by opening your curtains first thing in the morning.
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