By Parisa Burton
Opinions Editor
The start of the school year each September marks the beginning of a new era for many students, who feel like they finally have a clean slate. The first two weeks of school can feel like an extension of summer, with warm weather and easy starter assignments from professors. But before we know it, leaves begin to fall, and so do some of our spirits.
Social media tends to glamorize the arrival of fall, welcoming seasonal favorites like pumpkin spice, Ugg boots, sweaters, warm autumn colors and spooky movies. Many of us fully indulge ourselves into this excitement, scrolling through Pinterest to find inspiration for aesthetic outfits and home decor.
While it can be fun to romanticize fall and channel our inner Rory Gilmore, dressing in cozy fall attire, frequenting cute cafés and excelling academically, this isn’t attainable for many students.
The reality is that fall marks more than a sudden drop in temperature and fall foliage. It serves as a reality-check that the academic semester is back — and summer is officially over. Our workload grows, and it becomes harder to create a healthy balance between our academic and personal life.
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that typically manifests itself in late fall to early winter. According to Mental Health America, about 5% of the U.S. population experiences seasonal depression, and four in five people with SAD are women.
Serotonin is a chemical that transmits messages between the nerve cells in our brain to the rest of our body, serving as a natural mood booster and sleep regulator. When sunlight hits our skin and enters our eyes, our body produces increased levels of serotonin.
The first Sunday in November marks the end of daylight saving time, where we all turn our clocks back one hour and witness sunrise and sunset start earlier. With reduced levels of sunlight during the day, and reduced serotonin levels in our bodies, it makes sense why many college students experience heightened levels of depression during this season.
Sunlight helps us thrive, so when our days suddenly become darker, it can directly lower our mood and diminish our motivation. Symptoms of SAD include feelings of worthlessness, social withdrawal, fatigue, intense sadness, difficulty concentrating, appetite changes and suicidal thoughts, which all significantly impact everday life.
While achieving academic success in college is what most students strive for, it can be significantly more challenging for students who struggle with SAD. This is why it’s important to recognize the signs so we can be there for, and give grace to students who might otherwise be perceived as lazy, or even a downer.
The stigma associated with mental health can make it difficult to seek or accept help, but it's important to realize you are not alone. According to Appalachian State University, nearly 25% of college students across the country experience SAD. This percentage is higher in regions with higher altitudes and in cloudier areas.
The College’s Counseling and Prevention Services offers a range of resources for students, including individual counseling, themed group therapy programs and referrals to off-campus services. There is also a CARE referral form, a resource available for students to refer peers who may be exhibiting concerning mental health symptoms who would benefit from the available services.
While many students may find the romanticization of fall uplifting and motivating for the semester, embracing the seasonal charm, it's important to remember that this isn't ideal for everyone. For some, even getting out of bed can be their biggest accomplishment of the day, given what they’re experiencing internally. Let’s all strive to extend grace to ourselves and others who are trying their best during this sun-deprived season.
