Could your student be experiencing seasonal depression?

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On February 1, 2022

Snow falls on the Missouri S&T campus on November 14, 2108. Sam Ogunmolawa/Missouri S&T

Coping with Winter Depression

It’s normal for college students to feel a bit down in the winter. The joy and excitement of the holidays fade away, and the reality of a new class schedule and school responsibilities comes into full view. However, for some college students, lack of motivation and feelings of hopelessness in the colder months may point to a bigger issue. If you have noticed a large shift in your student’s mood beginning in the fall and intensifying through winter, they might be experiencing seasonal affective disorder, or winter depression.

What is seasonal affective disorder (SAD)?

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to a change in seasons; SAD begins and ends at about the same time every year.” While summer SAD does exist, most cases occur during the fall and winter months. Like those with other kinds of depression, winter-onset SAD sufferers often experience the following symptoms:

  • Lack of motivation
  • Decreased energy
  • Feelings of hopelessness
  • Weight and appetite changes
  • Agitation or restlessness
  • Sleep problems
  • Decreased interest in activities and social outings
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Suicidal thoughts

Please note that if your student is having suicidal thoughts, they should seek help immediately. Resources for help include 1-800-273-TALK (8255), the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, to speak with a trained counselor in their area. The hotline is open 24/7. Students should also be encouraged to reach out to Missouri S&T Well-Being for assistance with any mental health concerns.

What causes seasonal affective disorder/winter depression?

Symptoms of winter depression are thought to be triggered by a decrease in light during the winter months. While the specific cause is yet to be discovered, it is thought that serotonin, a natural chemical in your brain that controls mood, drops in reaction to reduced sunlight. This drop, along with a shift in the body’s level of melatonin (a hormone that promotes sleep), is thought to induce depression.

Why do some college students develop seasonal affective disorder?

Some people are at higher risk for seasonal affective disorder than others. Young people are more likely than older individuals to develop SAD; therefore, it makes sense that many people in college experience seasonal affective disorder. It is also most prevalent among female students and students living far from the equator, although it does affect men and students living in warmer areas. Not surprisingly, a study from Bates College found that students who had moved from “southern latitudes to northern New England were the most likely to experience increased depression in winter.” This means that if you have recently made a similar move—say from Arizona to Boston—you may be at higher risk for SAD than your peers from the North.


 Why would seasonal affective disorder be experienced in college and not in high school?

Students may be experiencing seasonal affective disorder for the first time if they have recently moved to a darker, colder climate. If that is not the case, it could be because circadian rhythms are out of whack in a way they weren’t when their parents were around. Now that students have full say over when they go to bed and when they wake up, they may be missing prime sunlight in the morning and sleep at night, making these symptoms more noticeable than ever before.

It is also possible that students are experiencing a depression that is not related to the seasons. College students are exposed to a lot of new academic, social, and physical stressors in the first year of school. If your student is struggling to develop healthy coping strategies, Missouri S&T Student Well-Being offers many resources for assistance.

Where can help for seasonal affective disorder be found?

Seasonal affective disorder and other forms of depression need to be diagnosed by a doctor. Schedule a physical with your family doctor or an appointment at Missouri S&T Student Health Services so other medical conditions that might be causing symptoms can be ruled out. Talk with a mental health specialist at Missouri S&T Student Well-Being by calling (573) 341-4211 to schedule an appointment.  If an informal setting is desired, Let’s Talk provides confidential conversations with trained Student Well-Being staff during walk-in hours at sites around campus.  If your student seems embarrassed or is nervous to see someone, remind them that the symptoms they are experiencing are likely treatable, and there are often many other college students with the same symptoms.

What is the treatment for seasonal affective disorder?

Light therapy is one of the most common treatments for SAD. Patients who are prescribed this treatment are asked to sit in front of a recommended light therapy box on a daily basis. Mimicking natural light, the light box is thought to increase and regulate the chemicals in the brain that control mood and thus decrease the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. There are very few side effects, but it is important to discuss light therapy with a medical professional before beginning the practice.

Other treatment options include antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. A therapist can help figure out the actions and thought patterns that may be aggravating seasonal affective disorder and can help your student come up with a plan for managing stress and coping with SAD.

What else can be done to help treat winter depression in addition to the other treatments listed?

Dr. Norman E. Rosenthal, the psychiatrist and researcher who named the disorder and developed light therapy treatment, recommends the following actions:

  • Add more light to your dorm or apartment. Open the shades! Bring in more lamps or other lighting fixtures. Create the feeling of summer light even when it’s months away.
  • Buy an alarm that wakes you up with light. Try something that will wake you up gradually with the semblance of natural light, or buy a timer that turns a lamp on in your room thirty minutes before you want to wake up.
  • Exercise during the brightest part of the day. Get outside for a walk or a run even when it is cold. For other ideas of winter outdoor exercise, read “Eight Ways to Stay Fit during the Winter Months without Hitting the Gym”.
  • Plan social outings. It’s hard to find motivation to go out on a cold winter day, but making an effort to see friends is well worth your time. If you are really struggling to leave your dorm or apartment, invite friends to your place even if don’t have time to clean up. Your good friends won’t mind, and you will benefit from some social interaction.

Seasonal affective disorder is a serious illness and should be treated as such. Let your student know there is no shame in seeking help from a medical professional and letting trusted family and friends know that they are struggling. If additional resources are needed to help through a tough time, consider these hotlines:

  • Crisis Call Center
    • Call 1-800-273-8255 toll-free or text ANSWER to 839863 (standard data rates apply).
    • Helpline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • National Institute of Mental Health
    • Call 1-866-615-6464 toll-free.
    • Helpline is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST).

Source

Author of Article:  Megan Reynolds.  Article adapted from studentcaffeblog.  Please Note: Missouri S&T does not endorse or have a relationship with SOURCE and articles are provided for information purposes only.  Missouri S&T and SOURCE do not assume responsibility for error or omission in materials.  

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On February 1, 2022. Posted in Parents and Family