The Reality of Constant Cold Fronts

By Emily Bruck

Astudent’s alarm blares repeatedly, signaling the start of yet another winter day. Reluctantly peeling away the warmth of their comforter, the student opens their blinds to discover their walk to class will again consist of clouds, wind, and snow. Among the many stressors for college students, the Syracuse winter weather (and lack of sunshine) adds to their ongoing distress.

In early February of 2023, upstate New York was struck with below-freezing temperatures, accompanied by lake effect snowfall, according to syracuse.com. At Syracuse University, dangerous conditions forced students to bunker down inside. And that was just the start of another long winter in Syracuse, New York.

With this weather comes the ever-present consideration of mental health. The inconsistency of activity and lack of sunlight for months on end can be detrimental in places like Syracuse, especially for those battling seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Students around campus have much to say about the issue, from their initial experiences with SAD, to their personal ways of combating it.

Priya Hanley, a sophomore from California, has had an experience unique to students from the West Coast. Hanley grew up in a warm climate, near the beach, where people are always outside. Already struggling with mental health issues, seasonal depression was yet another challenge for Hanley to have to face at Syracuse. Hanley has found that local seasonal changes consistently affect her experience with depression.

“I can really see a difference in the way I feel during the summer versus the winter, and that, to me, is seasonal depression,” Hanley said.

According to a recent Mayo Clinic article, SAD is considered a form of depression caused by differing factors such as the onset of fall and winter. Symptoms may include mood changes and withdrawal from usually enjoyable activities and socializing.

“I found myself spending a lot of time inside,” Hanley said. “I didn’t have the motivation to go outside, to see friends, or go to class.”

Peyton McGarry, a sophomore at SU, says she has had a similar experience to Hanley. Growing up in New Jersey, McGarry is not a stranger to the seasons. Despite this, the transition to Syracuse climate was jarring. Like Hanley, McGarry’s mental health was negatively affected by Syracuse’s long and dark winters.

“I struggle with mental health issues, but it helps when it’s sunny out,” McGarry said. “On days when I struggle more, it doesn’t help to walk outside and feel that gloomy atmosphere.”

Consistent cold fronts are anything but ideal for McGarry. She combats her struggles to achieve success at SU, with exercise, new routines, and ignoring the weather.

Dr. Thomas Schwartz, chair of the department of psychiatry at Norton College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical, provides a medical perspective. Regarding seasonal depression, he highlights that like any depression, it is defined by at least two weeks of mood changes and differing behaviors, such as energy, sleep cycle, and appetite.

“On that level it’s a depressive disorder, which people can get any time of the year,” Schwartz said, “but to make it seasonal, some of these folks only get depressed in the fall and winter.”

Schwartz notes that there are many causes of SAD, such as lack of light, which can affect our circadian rhythms and energy.

“Daylight has been a longtime culprit, the days here get shorter, Syracuse in particular is a cloudy city, and we don’t see many bright sunshine days,” Schwartz said. “So when your exposure to light drops, your circadian rhythm can change.”

However, it is not all biological, it is also social in many aspects. Schwartz acknowledges that depression can be because of changes in routine social interaction, or lack thereof. Faced with the weather in Syracuse, we lose some of our typical social routine.

Schwartz lists a variety of ways to treat seasonal affective disorder, the most primary treatment being bright light therapy, followed by exercise, psychotherapy, and antidepressants such as Bupropion, FDA approved for seasonal depression.

As a professional in the field, Schwartz is able to provide medical and psychological ways to combat the difficulty of seasonal affective disorder; however, it is important to note the common student dilemma of locating these resources easily, as well as finding help in them. This is the experience that Hanley and McGarry have had in Syracuse.

It is unsurprising that many students at SU are at risk of seasonal depression. Given the cold and windy weather, it is difficult for students to keep their attitudes and moods high. In the end, as Hanley says, all we can do is see positives in the present.

“My advice is to distract yourself, surround yourself with people who make you happy, and try your best to keep a positive mindset.” advises Hanley.