WOODBURY – Students are always dealing with something throughout the school year. Whether it’s a test coming up in their next class, or something after school eating up their time. Somehow it always feels like after winter break comes to an end, a certain sadness comes back during the next cold months.
Lots of people can deal with this, and it’s just as hard to watch people go through something that can affect their lives so much.
“I don’t really think about this that often, but for friends who do have depression and seasonal depression I feel bad because you try to help them cope with it, but depression is always there and it’s really hard to help,” said Jazlyn DelErincipe. “ Especially when they have it, because they don’t really want to do anything.”
Students all can go through their own unique challenges as the year passes, but for something like a seasonal slump, it comes back every year at the same time just as winter reaches its darkest–and coldest–lows. Leaving those in the northeast with a lingering sadness that they can’t control when the weather starts getting colder.
“There is usually an increase in seasonal depression after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season,” said Sandy Snabaitis, NHS’ nurse. “Seasonal depression symptoms include fatigue, avoidance of activities, poor diet or no appetite, difficulty with school work and concentrating, not sleeping well, struggling with school assignments. [This can cause a] loss of interest in friends, sports, and activities.”
S.A.D., is a medical diagnosis, Seasonal Affective Disorder, that requires a doctor’s verification, though many NHS students have noted their own winter malaise.
“I don’t know if I call it depression, but I do get a little more sad and not in a good mood as much when winter comes around,” said Ella Ryan. “…I feel like if you know that you get it every year, then you might be able to think of ways to make yourself more positive.”
This is a well known thing that everyone can go through. Once students get back into school, there is an overwhelming feeling that they just can’t really name.
“I don’t have Seasonal Affective Disorder, but I know my sister does, and she always goes through a lot and you can kind of tell it affects her whole mental health, her grades, a lot of her focus,” said NHS freshman Seren Kuijstermans.
Winter blues can affect different people in many different ways. But once people have it, things start to change. Grades start to slip lower, those suffering from winter’s gloom can lose motivation easily.
“A few of my friends have it, so it’s a little hard to help them cope because they have unhealthy coping mechanisms, some have healthy, but it’s really about how cooperative that friend is or how the person is working with you,” said DelErincipe.“Seasonal depression is probably just one of the worst things that could happen.”
