College students and high school students alike, are known for self-deprecating humor and the winter months don’t make that any easier. Daylight savings time can plunge young and old into a depressive state where it can be hard to get out of bed and socialize. And the slush on the roads in February doesn’t help. Introducing SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. A lot of times you won’t be able to even tell, till the sun comes back out in March and suddenly sunlight at 6 pm makes you want to run up and down your street. Unless of course, you’re saddled with clinical depression as well, affecting you year round.
Today is officially spring which is a big day for those of us waiting to see if we have seasonal depression or depression depression.
— Ron Iver (@ronnui_) March 20, 2019
While anxiety is a top concern in college students affecting 41.6%, about 36% have depression.
the sun is shining and I can feel the seasonal depression disappearing pic.twitter.com/4QrDxPRNV0
— Mariah (@MariahM2423) March 18, 2019
Since SAD runs in families, it may be good to pay attention to how your family acts around the winter months. The symptoms may not always present as you would expect depression to. Most likely you’re craving carbs because it can cause the same boost the serotonin in antidepressants gives you.
The first day of spring is here. Here’s what you should know about the #SpringEquinox https://t.co/Od8nS9eDS2 pic.twitter.com/MC11RlMoL3
— CNN International (@cnni) March 20, 2019
The way we feel can change just by the way the tilt of the earth is. Humans are very similar to plants, needing light and love to grow. The equinoxes give us a mark in time to plot our pathway through the year and is another milestone to check off. Many people celebrate the equinox in different ways, like the Members of London’s Druid Order. The Celtic religion’s devotees gathered in the city’s Tower Hill neighborhood to celebrate the first day of spring.
Check on yourself, check on your friends and get out of the fluorescent lights. While light therapy does help with SAD, use a warm light or even better natural light if possible.
Dead On Campus 