EDITORIAL: Beat the winter blues
Students facing the unforgiving winds and dreary grey skies of Mount Pleasant are no strangers to the "winter slump."
The stress of a busy new semester of classes and other responsibilities can lead to feeling tired, changes in appetite and irritability.
Some attempt to brush these feelings off and chalk them up to a bad day.
The Mayo Clinic warns these symptoms could be caused by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), specifically the kind that sets in around fall or winter. Caused by changes to the biological clock and fluctuation in melatonin and serotonin levels, SAD is a serious issue for students.
It is imperative that students not ignore these symptoms for what they are and not continue to ignore them.
First, students need to understand SAD as a disorder that is likely to affect much of the Central Michigan University population. Two of the risk factors for SAD are living far from the equator, and being young. These are traits most CMU students can identify with.
Psychology Today reports that SAD affects roughly 10 million Americans.
Understanding SAD is more likely to occur in a student population like ours during winter months is one way students can protect themselves. Being aware that it is widespread and prevalent can help students be more prepared in the event that it affects them.
If SAD is left unattended, it can lead to more serious conditions such as depression, substance abuse and withdrawal from social situations. Being able to not only recognize the signs of the disorder, but to also accept and seek help is important in order for students to remain healthy.
CMU employs a Take Care initiative that encourages students to look out for the well being of others by intervening in unhealthy situations.
In addition to taking care of each other, students need to speak up and seek help when they recognize the symptoms of SAD in themselves and others.
The Counseling Center offers individual counseling, group counseling and workshops, referrals to outside resources and a 24-hour crisis hotline. Residential Assistants and Multicultural Advisers are also available in every residence hall if students do not feel comfortable going to the Counseling Center.
SAD can be treated with light therapy, which exposes patients to sun lamps to make up for the lack of natural sunlight they might be experiencing during winter months. University Health Services began offering light therapy last year.
To ignore or trivialize the warning signs of SAD could be just as negligent as choosing not to intervene when a friend is in physical danger.
By recognizing the symptoms, being prepared for the possibility of being affected by SAD and stepping up to seek help, students can effectively take care of themselves and each other.
