There are so many things that may get you down when you are a student. It can be anything from getting a bad grade on a final to not knowing what you want to do after you graduate. These aren’t the only things that can cause you not to feel your best, however. As a student, you may experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), especially if you are going to school in a new place. If your school is in an area where you aren’t familiar with the weather, this may cause you to feel down, especially if you have to experience cold and rainy seasons that seem like they have no end in sight. Here’s a look at what you can do about it.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD for short, is a condition in which a person may feel depressed when the seasons change. Much of the time these feelings happen during the winter, but they can happen in any season, depending on the conditions present. If you experience depressive symptoms during the winter, you could be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder. Feeling down for multiple days, where you also feel like you can’t do anything and have no desire to may be a clue that you are affected by SAD. In this case, there are many ways in which you can manage it, which is good news. For more information on SAD, you can read this article.
How to Can Manage SAD
When you are looking to manage SAD and its symptoms, there are a few things you need to look into and consider.
- Get yourself checked out. When you are feeling sad or like you don’t want to do anything, you should have yourself checked out by a physician. You may be able to do that at the clinic on-campus or meet with your regular doctor if you are able to. They can tell you if you have any physical ailments that must be treated.
- Eat right. You should also do what you can to eat right. While this may be hard on a college campus, you should do your best to remember to eat fruits and vegetables when they are available. Also, try to drink water when you are able to, so you don’t become dehydrated.
- Sleep well. Another thing that can be hard for a student to do is get enough sleep, but this is important. Shoot for getting 7 hours a night when possible or give yourself a specific time to go to sleep every night.
- Exercise. This is also something that you should try to do a few times a week. Luckily, when you are a student, this can be easy to accomplish. For instance, you can walk to some of your classes or take a run around campus. In some cases, there are gyms or fitness centres at universities that you are able to use because you are a student.
- Talk to someone. SAD may make you feel like you need to stay isolated, but you should refrain from doing so. Talk to people around you, your friends and family, and if you still need more help, consider talking to a therapist. They will be able to lend a hand when it comes to addressing your symptoms and can talk to you about your treatment options.
- Get a light box. One type of treatment option that a therapist may talk to you about is a light box. This is a light that is designed to mimic natural lighting. Oftentimes, a person is asked to sit next to the light for a specific amount of time each day. Light boxes have been used for decades for the treatment of SAD. This treatment may be able to lessen certain SAD symptoms, especially when it is used in conjunction with psychotherapy and medicines, when applicable.
- Keep at it. Remember that when you are feeling the effects of SAD, this is something that may not go away overnight. Once you seek treatment for this condition, you may start to see an improvement in your symptoms over time. You should take it day to day and be aware that it can get better.
