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Seasonal Depression Among College Students

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Seasonal Depression Among College Students

Generally speaking, moods are more likely to fluctuate as the weather changes. Humans require sunlight to increase their body’s supply of vitamins, and our lack of exposure is one of the reasons we are deficient in vitamin D, which can lead to seasonal depression among college students. Understanding how the weather and time of year can affect us is critical.

When Does Seasonal Depression Occur? 

Seasonal depression is reported to occur most commonly during daylight savings time and the solstice when the sun is less noticeable and gets darker earlier in the day.

This normally happens during the fall and winter seasons. People are also more likely to feel sad during January and February. Some seasonal depression symptoms are fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and laziness. 

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Seasonal Depression Among College Students

Seasonal depression can impact students in a multitude of ways, such as an energy decrease, a lack of confidence, and a decrease in social interaction. Being a college student is already challenging enough, and one of the worst feelings is losing motivation while in school.

School is already difficult enough, and I’ve noticed that as you progress through your college enrollment, professors don’t provide as much assistance as they did freshman year in easing into the semester.

Preparing yourself mentally for the semester and what it might entail is important. Students must understand how the seasons affect their moods so that they can create strategies and tools to support them when certain times of the month occur. 

The Importance Of Goal Setting & Planning For Seasonal Depression In College

Setting goals for yourself for the semester, the week, or even the day can help college students have something to look forward to and feel accomplished about. Getting out of bed every day and attending classes is a goal in and of itself.

Making goals doesn’t necessarily have to be something major that will change your life; something as simple as ensuring you eat two complete meals daily can become a goal over time.

Sometimes, setting goals that can help you boost dopamine, which increases your happiness, will help during this process of seasonal depression.

As I previously said, making it a goal for said student to eat two complete meals a day can help them feel more rejuvenated throughout the day, which has an even greater positive effect on their bodies. This is especially true if one of those two meals is breakfast, considered the day’s most important meal.

Instead of stressing yourself out by trying big goals, it’s good to set small ones to help you get to a big one. Secondly, planning is important; it helps students feel more organized when they schedule their days and write down their assignments, plans, and responsibilities for the day or week. Seasonal depression among college students is real, and sometimes people don’t understand.

A student can become more organized by making a detailed, or even estimated, plan. This will help the students when they deal with the difficulties of seasonal depression and still have that sense of organization.

The Importance Of Surrounding Yourself With Positivity 

Last but not least, it’s critical that you surround yourself with things and people that uplift you, give you tranquility, and support you through difficult times. People need people, especially in difficult times like this one when a student is dealing with the difficulties of seasonal depression; therefore, it’s critical to have someone you can rely on to take the weight off of you occasionally. 

Having someone to confide in, a friend who can help you leave the house or even a family member you know you can turn to in difficult times—all of these things are crucial when you’re experiencing seasonal depression or are feeling down.

Surrounding oneself with positive energy can help one’s mind be productively occupied, let alone supported, during this period, even though some people may believe this is only a temporary solution. In moments of sadness, it is always comforting to know that you are loved and supported throughout this time. 

In conclusion, it’s always important to know what works best for you and apply that in the best way possible. Always realize that this feeling will fade over time. Although the sun is not visible, this does not mean it will not return to the sky for an extended period of time. Never forget that you are not alone, despite how simple it is to believe otherwise. 

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