This Week's Featured Story

Fighting the Winter Gloom

photo by "lince"

 

MSA or SAD?

by

Joan Kimball, Ph.D.

To some extent, we are all affected by the weather. It is one of the most common topics of casual conversation: “Can you believe this weather?” “Do you think it might snow?” “At last, sunshine!” Most of us get a little down after being cooped up inside, and most of us feel invigorated when spring finally arrives. If you fall in this category--what I call “mildly-season-affected” (MSA if you must have your own acronym)--you have lots of company.

For some people, the “winter blues” are more serious. They have a hard time functioning during the winter months. Going to class, keeping up with schoolwork, staying connected with friends—any and all of these activities become a struggle. For other people, the blues don’t strike in the winter, but during another season, maybe even summer (it can be especially distressing when you are feeling sad while everyone else is rushing off to swim in the lake or play Frisbee on the lawn!).

If the last paragraph sounds familiar, this article is for you. How do you know whether you are simply seasonally affected or seasonally depressed? For starters, answer the following questions:

• Do you experience a depressed mood (e.g. sad, empty, tearful, etc.) that appears to be related to a particular time of the year (usually beginning in fall or winter, but possibly associated with another season)?
• During this time of the year, do you have less interest in activities you used to enjoy?
• Does your weight either increase or decrease significantly during this time of year?
• Do you experience insomnia or, conversely, do you sleep more than usual?
• Do you feel either unusually restless or slowed down during this time?
• Are you unusually tired?
• Do you have feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt (e.g. guilt that is not tied to a choice you regret, or seems excessive)?
• Is it more difficult for you to think clearly, concentrate, or make decisions?

If you answered “yes” to at least five of the above questions, you may suffer from SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is a form of depression. The good news is that this is a highly treatable problem. The first step is to visit a physician or counselor to discuss your symptoms and verify the diagnosis. Together, you can review your treatment options. The following are just a few possibilities: light therapy, medication, nutrition, exercise, and counseling.

For more information about SAD, visit the Counseling Center website:  www.wwu.edu/chw/counseling/. Click on “Self-Help Resources,” and then scroll down to “Seasonal Affective Disorder.” You will find a helpful webpage from the Mayo Clinic and a description of the light therapy boxes available on campus.

At the Counseling Center, we are available to help you prevent or overcome SAD. We will even help you with MSA!