Did you know that about 5% of the U.S population is diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D)?

You probably know S.A.D better as Seasonal Depression. With the arrival of the winter months comes many things for Minnetonka students. This festive season comes with its holiday music, festive decor, carpeting snow, and holiday breaks. However, the winter days also bring dark mornings with early sunsets, making for shorter days. This is where the previously mentioned Seasonal Depression comes in. It’s caused by the connection between reduced sunlight and brain chemistry, where the brain thinks it’s later in the day than it is, producing less energy. This causes a feeling of gloominess, that coupled with academic stress, can take quite a toll on students who are affected. While only some are officially diagnosed with S.A.D, many more experience symptoms without an official diagnosis which is more known as the Winter Blues.

In the interest of the Holiday season it seems like a worthy goal to still make the season bright and see how students are working to overcome the Winter Blues. This research was collected through google forms. On the form students were first asked to indicate if they have had symptoms of Winter Blues. About 67% of students indicated they felt they had symptoms. Despite the comical happenstance of this number, it’s certainly nothing to laugh about. While not always diagnosed, it’s clear that the Winter Blues affect a wide swath of people one way or another. This is a much wider amount than the 5% who are diagnosed so its likely S.A.D impacts a lot more people than the initial data shows. 

Those who indicated that they felt symptoms were asked if they had any tips for how to overcome them. Many respondents mentioned using music and staying active. Many more mentioned the use of a sunlight lamp. These devices are meant to emulate natural sunlight and improve mood during the darker months of the year, and have become popular recently. This is a way to help steer the brain back into rhythm, helping prevent the slumping energy that comes with earlier sunsets. 

Overall, the causes and cures of the winter blues can never be fully known. I hope that this article can offer if not guidance, but a realization that you are not alone.