By Itzel Chavero
With December approaching, creeping black skies and cold wind can put a seasonal spin on depression and lead to a condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
However, experts at Dominican have found a way to fight back against the wintertime sadness.
While there is no known exact cause of seasonal depression, some factors influencing this includes lack of sunlight and shorter days, which can imbalance hormones and other chemicals in our brain, according to experts.
Common symptoms of this disorder include feeling agitated, depressed, or weak, changing eating habits, and having decreased interest in doing fun activities.
Dr. Miriam Mendoza, assistant clinical director for counseling, highlighted the importance of recognizing resources on campus to help students with their mental and physical health during the winter season.
“All the things we know will support our mental health such as the basics of having a good sleeping schedule as well as good exercise and nutrition is helpful for doing hobbies you enjoy,” said Mendoza. “It is about figuring out what works for you and what makes you feel good.”
Cecilia Sandoval, a junior majoring in psychology, said she thinks studying finals worsens her bouts of SAD, but explained that seeing others stressed out makes her feel less alone.
“I think the workload around this time gets really heavy since it is close to the end of the semester,” said Sandoval. “It just adds on, and you get no motivation to do anything.”
Sometimes, students are reluctant to talk about depression due the shame of mental health.
Tracy Caldwell, a psychology professor, explained how students might receive different messages from both school and their families about the denial of depression.
“I think you must reconcile the two different cultures. Your family members can be wrong, but still be good,” said Caldwell. “Mental health concerns used to have a huge stigma for students. They are now feeling less strange about asking for help and that gives me hope. You are going to be the ones providing the next generation of Dominican students reprograms.”
Common approaches against depression include light therapy, which is defined as exposing yourself to bright lights, regular exercise, physical movement, and maintenance of a balanced and healthy diet.
When stressful times hit, it is always important for students to seek support from professionals at the Wellness Center.
The center strives to make services more accessible and approachable according to staff. Students can recieve one-on-one counseling sessions for support.
Although the center allows drop-in visits, the staff also recommend setting up appointments through the wellness portal.
Additionally, workshops are held to teach students different skills to manage stress and healthy relationships.
Students facing problems can use the “Text Me” line to message a 24/7 mental health support line.
Students can also text STAR to 844-670-5838 for confidential assistance from licensed mental health counselors.
