Winter Blues Can Be Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Depression is real and the winter can make it more acute.

Experiencing feelings of sadness and fatigue is passed off as normal during winter time, and consequently avoiding the reality of these emotions can lead to other serious forms of depression and anxiety. The most common form of moderate depression is Seasonal Affective Disorder also known as “SAD” which is very commonly found in teens and occurs in the fall/winter because the days get shorter and light is less visible. The Pineal gland is located near the center of the brain and is activated by light. Without light exposure, this gland is ineffective and can lead to depression.

As Dr.Stoner mentioned in Chapel, getting help for depression is a critical step in avoiding or ending a battle with the mental illness and all the life-altering repercussions that come along with it. Depression looks very different for all individuals depending on circumstance and other contributing factors. The stereotypes of being emo and openly admitting that you cut yourself and seeking attention is not really what depression looks like, in fact it is quite far from that. The individuals that are constantly trying to make everyone happy and seem perfectly fine are also some of the ones suffering from depression. “SAD” is the first step on a downward path of negative emotions that lead to depression, chronic depression (Dysthymia), and possibly suicide. Letting the mind remain depressed for extended amounts of time is what causes the rearrangement and misalignment of transmitters in the brain to ineffectively distribute emotions and messages throughout the brain.

While attending my last year at Visitation Academy after having been there from preschool-7th grade I seemed like I had my future and life planned out, I was playing volleyball on the A team for them, had stellar grades, playing year round club volleyball on the top team for the age group above me, being in the top boat for rowing, and having amazing family and friends, yet I was not content with my life and felt constantly sad and frustrated. With no one having known this about me, there was no way for people to see how I felt and try to intervene. I was embarrassed about how I felt because my life and emotions didn’t line up and thought no one would understand this.

Finally one night in January 2014 after having switched schools to Westminster and a year after my chronic depression (Dysthymia) had started I did something I never thought I would. Having never talked to my parents about my feelings before I melted down to my mom one night and told her I’m tired of being sad and not knowing why I am sad. I then got medical treatment for my affliction but originally hated the idea because I didn’t want help with problems I knew I could fix on my own…or so I thought I could. Through my personal experience I would advise anyone who is even slightly second guessing their mental health to seriously consider the dangers of letting the negative emotions go untreated for extensive amounts of time for they can lead to an unwanted change in persona and brain productivity.

Admitting that you may be depressed is one of the hardest/weirdest experiences a teenager may have because a feeling of nonchalance and acting like you don’t care about anything seems to be categorized as “cool”. Being depressed is not normal and is a very serious illness, but due to it being mental people are hesitant to speak out about it and are fearful of being categorized as “crazy” or “mental”. Talking/advising a person who may be experiencing SAD and informing them of the possibility of further mental impediments can increase the chance of recovery, prevent permanent brain damage, as well as restoration of the person they used to be before they fell into depression.   

imgres