SAD Season
Jade Wilson | Writer
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a condition you might not be aware of, but you may experience it. More common in fall and winter, SAD occurs because of a chemical change in the brain during specific seasons, usually fall and winter when there is less sunlight and shorter days. While most Americans might have it, only 5% of the United States is diagnosed.
Most people don’t get diagnosed because they don’t even know what SAD resembles. Some common symptoms are feelings of sadness, fatigue, and emptiness. This could manifest through a loss of interest in activities that used to bring joy, difficulty staying motivated, and oversleeping.
While I haven’t been diagnosed, I relate to this disorder. My grades slip during the fall semester. When it gets cold, I stop hanging out with my friends and begin to isolate myself from the world. It’s a pretty scary thing not knowing if you’ll ever be okay again and your full self again, but I wanted to write this to let you know that you're not alone. If you relate to any of this, consider getting tested and seeking help, such as taking vitamin D supplements or seeing a therapist—there's no shame in taking your health seriously.
My recommendation is not to let the colder seasons stop you from enjoying life. Do activities that are in-season to help you get outside such as apple picking, harvesting a pumpkin, or going to the ice skating rink. The most important thing to remember is that “Solitude and isolation are painful things and beyond human endurance” (Jules Verne). We can all help each other.
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