Outside it is cold, the kind of cold that chills you to the bone. Not to mention the bluster in the air and the grey clouds that lurk in the sky.
Has the recent winter weather upset your usual cheery mood and routine? Have you found yourself singing “Mr. Sun, please come out to play with me”?
If you answered yes to either question, don’t worry – you are not alone. Many students admit being thrown for a loop by the unusual cold weather Dallas has experienced this season.
Although some people enjoy bundling up and embracing the cold, many students find frosty weather a bother and are constantly hoping for warmer days.
Freezing temperatures and grey skies can be depressing. Thought to be caused by a lack of sunlight, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a depressive episode that occurs in some people during the winter.
Symptoms of the disorder include a depressed mood, social withdrawal, excessive sleep and a change in appetite.
SAD only occurs in about 5 percent of the population according to Valerie Tiffany, a staff counselor at the SMU Memorial Health Center.
So although many students are not feeling quite like their normal selves, they probably do not have SAD. Rather, the cold weather has just pushed them out of their usual routine and disposition.
Katie Bartush, a sophomore business major from Granger, Ind., is familiar with chilly weather but still says she does not enjoy it. She says the cold makes her less energetic. She finds it harder to get to class on time, and sometimes the weather makes going out at night less enjoyable.
Carley Westfall, a sophomore finance major, agrees that often going out in the winter is a pain.
“Waiting in the cold for a cab is miserable,” explains Westfall, a Richardson native. Having lived near Dallas for a long time, Westfall finds this weather unexpected and unpleasant.
Both girls try to not let the weather get the best of them. Bartush recommends taking naps and working out to keep away the winter blues.
Westfall gladly suggests a different approach: “Try eating a 100-calorie chocolate pudding snack pack to keep the weather from getting to you.”
Additionally, the health center recommends staying socially involved and maintaining healthy nutrition habits during the winter to keep a positive attitude.
Moreover, whenever the sun is out, make sure to absorb as much as possible. If the sun does not shine enough for you, invest in a sun lamp.
If you try these tips and still feel depressed, don’t be afraid to share your feelings with someone. Talk to a family member or friend.
Also, keep in mind that the SMU Memorial Health Center offers free and confidential counseling and testing services.
Remember, spring (and Spring Break) are just around the corner! So keep trudging through the cold, because the sunshine is on its way.
For more information about self-help and online screening for depression, you can log on to the Counseling and Testing Center website at www.smu.edu/counseling.
