As winter months begin to tick down the last few days and holiday lights fade, many students and staff find themselves battling much more than a cold—Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) can make these winter months feel like the longest months. While “winter blues” are common, (for some) the struggle is more intense, making it necessary and essential to understand what SAD is and how to cope with it.
Seasonal Affective Disorder in high school students is “surprisingly common”, according to Sierra Vista High School’s AP Psychology teacher, Dr Marino. Who explains that especially in the desert, “we have so much sunlight that when it’s not there, you’re not having access to the Vitamin D and so mood drops, and you just feel like you’re having some low times.” Not only is it common due to the shivering winter months of Nevada, but also due to teenagers already having ups and downs due to hormones due to “developing all the things that you’re supposed to be as a young adult, and yet still being told you’re a child, which becomes complicated.”
Although Seasonal Affective Disorder seems impossible to overcome, due to the winter months, Marino reveals the ways students can overcome it. These options can vary from sun therapy for 20-30 minutes, exercising, laughing, eating nutritious foods, and being with friends can severely help in these times of need.
Do not take SAD lightly though, it is just as serious as any other behavioral disorder like bipolar. Seasonal Affective Disorder still has the same side effects of depression, according to Marino, such as, “low mood, low energy, crankiness, ideation and even suicidality.” With such serious symptoms it is always necessary for students to seek help when struggling through the disorder. But, Marino believes the hardest part is with the disorder, a student’s first instinct when suffering through a depressive episode, “is to isolate.” and the best support teachers can provide in these particular months is to, “really be understanding and notice when there’s a change in mood.”
Despite how difficult it may seem to get through the tough winter times with Seasonal Affective Disorder, it is always best to seek help from friends, teachers, parents, or anyone close by before anything becomes too late. Students may also refer to the Zen Den, which is a safe place within Sierra Vista where all students are welcome to wind down. Although SAD seems embarrassing to reach out for help due to “winter blues” bringing students down, it isn’t. Seasonal Affective Disorder is and should be taken seriously within schools.
