BYU NewsNet - Wintry Season Causes Woes for Some

It's difficult to adequately describe the beauty of freshly fallen snow, or the way its fluffy, cotton ball flakes are able to cover every building, fence, tree and car with a soft, marshmallow coating. Looking out the window at such a serene landscape, it is almost impossible to imagine that in only a matter of hours, humankind will once again convert nature's visual paradise into a slushy, gray mess.

But sitting indoors to stay warm is one of the activities that may induce seasonal affective disorder.

This more intense version of the "winter blues" afflicts "an estimated half a million people between September and April" and especially affects people in their 20s, according to the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association's Web site.

Although the specific cause of SAD is unknown, the Mayo Clinic's Web site suggests that fall and winter's short days and long nights can disrupt the circadium rhythm -- a physiological process that helps regulate the body's internal clock, letting you know when to sleep or wake. The irregularity of days may also increase your body's production of melatonin (a sleep-related hormone) and decrease production of serotonin (a natural brain chemical that affects mood).

All of these factors contribute to symptoms of "depression, hopelessness, anxiety, loss of energy, social withdrawal, oversleeping, loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities, appetite changes, especially a craving for foods high in carbohydrates, weight gain, and difficulty concentrating and processing information," according to the Web site.

Although most people can say they have had days when they feel particularly low, they should only consult a physician when they experience various symptoms for days at a time.

"I feel sad from right before fall semester finals until the beginning of April when the sun comes out," said Lucy Moore Brown, a senior in American studies. "But I feel really depressed the first day of winter semester. Christmas is over and you find yourself living on your own, taking care of yourself. Your family isn't close, and you're walking through ice chunks -- that's not really a lot of incentive for me to get out of bed."

After four years at BYU, Brown has found that because of her seasonal affective disorder, each winter has been the worst semester socially and academically for her.

And unfortunately for those diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder, this form of depression is cyclical. According to the Mayo Clinic's Web site, those who are forced to live with SAD start to experience symptoms at about the same time each year, and also begin to feel happier at about the same time as well.

There is an upside. Due to the disorder's recurrent nature -- that is, it comes back and goes away roughly the same time each year -- SAD sufferers are able to better prepare themselves and curb effects by starting treatment as symptoms appear each year.

The Mayo Clinic's Web site lists various treatment options that include light therapy (sitting a few feet from a specialized light therapy box each day for a set amount of time), anti-depressants, psychotherapy, regular exercise, getting adequate rest, eating a balanced diet, learning how to better manage stress, socializing with people you enjoy being around, and possibly taking a trip to a warmer, sunnier location.

In order to help students manage SAD, BYU offers personal, couple and group counseling at the Counseling and Career Center (422-3035), and the Student Health Center (422-2771) rents out lamps for those whose doctors prescribe light therapy.

"The most helpful thing for me is to keep my friends and family close," Lucy Moore Brown said. "I also try to make plans for warmer weather so that I have something to look forward to."