Despite recent sunny skies, winter depression still has some students wishing it was spring.
But with rainy, gray skies dominating Oregon winters, some students have been taking advantage of the University Health Center’s services to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Anna Epstein, a health center peer health educator and University junior, has noticed an increase from fall term in the number of students asking about SAD resources.
“More people have been coming to us about how they could get the proper vitamin D in them because they might be feeling depressed,” Epstein said.
Seasonal Affective Disorder, known as SAD, is a seasonal form of depression occurring in the fall and winter months that can cause sluggishness, irritability, social withdrawal, irregular sleep patterns and a loss of interest in sex, work or other activities.
Although the exact cause of SAD is unknown, the National Institutes of Health states it is most likely related to several factors, including body temperature, ambient light and hormone regulation.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, SAD affects between 4 and 6 percent of Americans every year, with another 10 to 20 percent suffering from a milder version of the disorder.
It is thought to be more common in northern latitudes, where there is less exposure to sunlight.
University Health Promotion Director Paula Staight recommends students experiencing symptoms of SAD meet with a practitioner for $15 to assess whether or not they have SAD and what treatment options would be helpful.
If a student is found to have the disorder, treatment options can include counseling, medication or sitting under a light box or lamp that mimics natural sunlight.
Light boxes or lamps can help diminish symptoms of SAD in some individuals, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The health center currently has two light boxes from Northern Light Technologies available for students who have been diagnosed with SAD.
Despite a possibly high prevalence of SAD, and the work the peer health educators do to promote awareness of treating the disorder, Epstein said she thought many students didn’t realize SAD and the treatment services within the health center for the disorder exist.
“I don’t think people hear about it if they aren’t really proactively looking for it,” Epstein said.
Staight said that with all the distractions students face, it’s easy to see why students may not know about SAD and treatments available for it.
“I would guess that not all students, and maybe the majority, might not know about it, because … there is a lot of competition for their attention,” Staight said.
Staight said she thought University students hailing from states with more sunlight need “an extra heads up” when it comes to SAD.
She also encourages students who want to boost their moods to spend time doing activities outdoors, even in less-than-ideal weather.
“It really helps to exercise and get those good endorphins going … even though it’s cloudy and wet, you can still go outside and still exercise,” Staight said.
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Have the winter blues? Seasonal Affective Disorder may be to blame
Daily Emerald
January 31, 2011
Aaron Marineau
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