Battling seasonal depression

I wake up to a gray light through my blinds. It’s dreary, and dark, and cold where the sill touches my forearm. I hit snooze again and fall into listless sleep. When I walk to my class, the wind simultaneously whips my hair across my face and freezes it, forming it into an odd shape for the rest of the day, which I barely notice through the haze of sleepiness. My classrooms are quiet, muted; the students all seem tired, but I have a hard time keeping my eyes open. At work, I yawn every few minutes and check my phone. Only one minute has passed. On the drive back to campus, I look over the sky, turning to navy blue too soon. I feel like I’ve wasted my whole day. I eat dinner in the cafeteria, piling on carbs because I crave them like no tomorrow. I stare at my phone blankly as I eat and try to endure the twenty minutes of chewing so I can go lay down. I go back to my room and accidentally fall asleep, waking late at night to work on my homework. Then, I stay up all through the night, playing Mario Kart and watching YouTube videos until my eyes shut involuntarily. Cue the alarm clock blaring in my ear for round two.

I find it harder and harder to stay on top of my schedule. Do you relate? You might have seasonal depression, like me. More specifically, you may have Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, ironically. When spring arrives, I know this will change – the sun will be out for longer each day, and the grass will start to look greener. The trees will sprout leaves, and flowers will bloom. I also know things can help with these symptoms before spring – specifically going to counseling, using my sun lamp, waking at a decent hour, and spending time with my friends. If you’re experiencing the same symptoms, know that this disorder is extremely common. You might feel alone in your experience, but my guess is that more students than just me are struggling with Seasonal Affective Disorder this season. Help is available on campus, and I recommend you make use of it. Reach out to Cindy Beadles or Tom Caudill to schedule an appointment for counseling and know that spring will arrive – it always does.

Caroline King - Staff Writer