BY RAEGAN NEUFELD<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seasonal affective disorder, also called seasonal depression, most commonly occurs during the fall and winter months. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms can include appetite changes, oversleeping, and low energy.\u00a0
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\u201cWeather definitely has an impact on us as humans and our mental health,\u201d said FHSU Drug and Alcohol Counselor Bob Duffy.
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While it\u2019s true that the nicer weather during spring and summer can lessen the effects of seasonal depression, Duffy says that it\u2019s more about the connection between the mind and body.
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\u201cA lot of times it\u2019s about taking advantage of the connection between our mind and our body,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen the weather is warmer we tend to be more active, it\u2019s easier to go outside, and you see more people outside. When we\u2019re more active our senses are heightened a little bit and we\u2019re also energized.\u201d
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Simply put, nicer weather can provide more opportunities for the things that make us happy. A higher heart rate from activity and more exposure to vitamin D can make us feel better, as well as just seeing others.
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\u201cWhen we\u2019re cooped up and inside, and it\u2019s gray and rainy outside, that can make depression seem worse,\u201d said Duffy.
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Duffy also talked about what to do to take advantage of the nice weather. For him, it\u2019s outdoor photography and golfing. For college students, he suggests – among other things – working on homework outside.
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\u201cI always love seeing students that are doing their homework out [on the quad]. Technology can be a good thing and a bad thing, but I\u2019m really glad that we have the internet available with our new technology out there,\u201d Duffy said. \u201cWe have routers out there that you can connect to the web and actually do your homework outside.\u201d
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He went on to explain three dimensions of health to be aware of.
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\u201cWhen I talk to students in personal counseling sessions, I usually ask about three specific things: exercise, diet, and sleep. We tend to eat heavier foods during the winter, and that can lead to us not feeling that good. Having a steady sleep regiment is important, especially as the seasons are transitioning if that\u2019s something you\u2019re sensitive to,\u201d Duffy said. \u201cWith exercise, what I usually recommend is starting with about a ten-minute walk. That starts the chemicals in our brain that make us feel okay to be released, but 20 minutes is a really good point to try and get to.\u201d
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Duffy ended by saying that while taking advantage of the nice weather can help with seasonal depression, it\u2019s not a total cure.
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\u201cIt sets the table, so to speak, so that you may not be as depressed or your symptoms may become more manageable,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat we find is that if we encourage people to become active, check on those physical things – especially exercise, diet, and sleep, and if needed, get evaluated for medication, we really give ourselves the best chance.
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