Dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder in College

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Dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder in
College
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• The 'January blues' or 'winter blues' is a
  challenge for many Canadians, including college
  students. Once the holidays end, its back to
  school and back to responsibility, which is a
  transition many students just dont want to make.
  Plus, the cold weather can make this transition
  even more daunting and depressing. Depression
  during the winter is known as Seasonal Affective
  Disorder (SAD). It can affect many college
  students and dealing with the issue begins with
  educating yourself. Below are the symptoms,
  causes, and treatments for SAD.

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The Cause and Symptoms of Seasonal Affective
Disorder

• SAD is simply defined as seasonal depression that
  happens most commonly during the colder months.
  Symptoms of this disorder include fatigue, loss
  of appetite, lack of motivation, trouble
  concentrating, agitation, weight loss, insomnia
  and restlessness, suicidal thoughts, decreased
  interest in personal and social activities, and
  feelings of hopelessness. Seasonal affective
  disorder is caused by a reduction in the hormones
  serotonin and melatonin due to reduced sunlight
  during the winter. Serotonin controls mood, while
  melatonin causes sleepiness. Changes in these
  hormones can lead to depression or SAD. If you
  find you're having suicidal thoughts, please seek
  help immediately.

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How Seasonal Affective Disorder is Treated

• Light therapy is the most common and most
  effective way to treat this disorder. This
  therapy comes in the form of a light therapy box,
  which students can purchase from many places
  online or that they may be able to borrow from
  their doctor's office. The box mimics natural
  light and helps to increase and balance serotonin
  and other hormones. Treatment requires the
  patients to sit in front of the box every day
  until the symptoms disappear. Patients may also
  be prescribed psychotherapy or antidepressant
  medication as supplemental or alternative
  treatments. Psychotherapy teaches patients how to
  manage stress and cope with their symptoms, while
  antidepressants help regulate chemicals in the
  brain,  reducing certain symptoms.

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Getting Help Around Campus

• First, seasonal affective disorder must be
  diagnosed by a physician, but there are some
  campus resources that can help you as well. For
  example, you could visit the colleges health
  centre to get a preliminary diagnosis or rule out
  the possibility that your symptoms are caused by
  another health condition. You could also seek
  therapy from one of the specialists at the
  schools counseling centre. Talking to, or simply
  hanging out with, friends or roommate(s) could
  also help you cope with some of the symptoms.

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• Some colleges even have student organizations
  designed to help students who are suffering from
  depression or other mental health issues. Being
  in touch with a community is often an effective
  coping mechanism for depression. If you're living
  in London, Ontario apartments for students, like
  Residence on First, this type of off-campus
  housing offers a rich sense of community.

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Reasons Why Some Students are More Susceptible to
SAD

• Seasonal Affective Disorder can affect anyone,
  but some individuals are more susceptible to it
  than others. For example, young adults are more
  susceptible to the disorder than older adults,
  which is why its so common among college
  students. Those living in colder environments,
  such as Canada, are also more likely to develop
  SAD. Finally, female students have a higher
  susceptibility to the disorder than male students
  because of differences in hormone levels.
•  If you think you may be experiencing some of
  the symptoms of SAD, please talk to your doctor
  about additional things you can do to overcome or
  at least cope with these challenges.