SAD IS IN SEASON
While the winter months wash over GVSU alongside a tidal wave of exam stressors, don’t write off the signs of being SAD.
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At first glance, the idea of Seasonal Affective Disorder is easy to laugh off. First, it has an almost comically perfect acronym (SAD), which is presumably intentional, but feels goofy nonetheless. Along the same vein, the concept of it seems so simple and almost irrational. The weather gets gloomy, and it puts you in a bad mood – makes sense; but how does that constitute a diagnosis of depression?
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, SAD affects only about six percent of the population in its “marked form,” but a lesser form of seasonal mood changes (usually called “winter blues”) affects another 14 percent. And although the name “winter blues” doesn’t bode well for encouraging seriousness, the effects SAD can have on a person – especially a student already under an unusually tremendous amount stress – it can be very serious.
Psychological stressors alone play a big role in the rise or fall of an academic career, and when those intangible emotions are internalized, they can make or break more than just a degree.
This is not to say that at times students (among others) don’t take the excuse and run with it in the turmoil of exam week – we know a good thing when we see it – but it is to call attention to something potentially harmful that students can easily write off as just another setback.
Though it’s usually only thought of in an emotional context, there is hard science behind SAD. Going from 15 hours of light in the summer to only nine hours of daylight in the winter months is a difference of six hours of natural light. For a lot of students, this means they head to school in pitch black, and come out of their last class in the pitch black, leaving virtually no room for non-academic activity in the daylight.
Need more hard evidence? Because vitamin D is the only vitamin that doubles as a hormone, it is absorbed into our bodies when skin is exposed to ultraviolet radiation found in natural sunlight and subsequently releases neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, both of which affect our brains reward center and the levels of which can drastically affect our mood. So, SAD is a real thing.
If your classic case of the early morning no-hot-water-left-for-showering-I-just-burned-my-toast-why-is-this-happening-to-me weepies start happening on a regular basis, and then for no reason until eventually getting out of bed becomes a challenge all it’s own, then think about talking to someone – even if at first it just seems like a silly case of winter blues.
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Pictures of the Year 2012-2013
Courtesy Photo/Joe Kargula and Erik Peterson run the Marathon leg of the Ironman Triathlon
GVL / Robert Mathews Quarterback Heath Parling (12) leading the offense past Notre Dame College.
GVL / Eric Coulter Senior Jake Isaacson placed eigth in the Spartan Invitational. Isaacson's time of 25:04 was the highest among Division II athletes.
GVL/Jessica Hollenbeck Student Senate President Jack Iott speaks to the assembly during Thursday's meeting.
Courtesy / gvsu.edu President Haas and Montcalm Community College President Robert C. Ferrentino sign the transfer agreement
Courtesy Photo/ GVSU Athletic Department Sophomore Chris Cunningham lines up a putt at a past match.
Courtesy Photo / GVSULakers.com Andrew Darrell prepares to return the serve earlier this season.
GVL / Jessica Hollenbeck President Haas cooks pancakes during Family Weekend's "Pancakes with Presidents".
GVL / Jessica Hollenbeck President Haas cooks pancakes during Family Weekend's "Pancakes with Presidents".
GVL / Archive Forward Briauna Taylor (31) chases down a lose ball in a game last season
Courtesy Photo / Dean Breest Sophomore Allyson Winchester was named the GLIAC Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year after finishing first with a time of 20:48.8.
GVL / Archive GVSU's Breland Hogan rises and fires over three defenders last season.
GVL/Bo Anderson Briauna Taylor leads the fast break during a game earlier this season.
GVL / Robert Mathews Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning, James Moyer, leading a walk through of the Mary Ideam Pew Library
Courtesy Photo / GVSU DII Men's Hockey Jeremy Christopher chases down a puck during a matchup last season.
GVL / Bo Anderson Students and faculty danced under the spectacular light show in the Devos Place Ballroom
GVL / Robert Mathews Martin L�wenberg, holocaust survivor, speaking at the Genocide Awareness Night presentation in the Grand River Room.
Courtesy / Dean Breest Senior Sam Lockhart finishes her indoor career with two individual national championships in weight throw and shot put at the 2013 National Championships.
Archive / Robert Mathews Giancarlo Brugnoni (40) rounding the bases during a previous game.
GVL/Bo Anderson Seniors Christ Koppenaal, Bill Madsen, and Mitch Weber measure the exterior of the Wesley House as part of an energy audit.
GVL / Robert Mathews Senior Anthony Campanella pitching against Tiffin University during the Lakers double header.
GVL / Eric Coulter Brother Jed Smock, a member of Campus Ministry USA, speaks with fervor to a student. Many students, all with differing views, came to watch the Campus Ministry members speak.
GVL / Sean Mouton A passing walker stops to admire some recently constructed pieces of Art Prize 2012.
GVL Archive Senior Nick Gunthorpe follows through and watches his shot at the Ardenson last year. This weekend the team will be playing in South Haven.
GVL / Bo Anderson GVSU's Katie Martin points to her teammate after safely reaching second base.
GVL / Robert Mathews Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons under construction.
GVL / Archive The Grand Valley Rowing Team during Spring Training in Florida last spring.
GVL / Robert Mathews Judge Glenda Hatchett, keynote guest for Monday's King celebration, speaks in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof.
GVL / Robert Mathews Judge Glenda Hatchett, keynote guest for Monday's King celebration, speaks in the Grand River Room in Kirkhof.
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