This past month might have flown by if you weren’t a victim of the “vampire,” also known as this past month. A vampire is certainly a dour symbol for February, and that’s the point, the weather remains gloomier and cold while summer still sits so far away, and life tends to suck the light out of your life. The excitement of the new year has worn off, leaving many students feeling stuck in a mid-winter slump.
February has a way of making everything feel heavier. Assignments pile up, motivation dips, and the cold weather keeps us indoors, making the days longer, and blur together. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects many people during this time, amplifying feelings of fatigue and sluggishness, mostly caused by the lack of Vitamin D. It can become very easy to get lost in the monotony of routine and forget that brighter days are ahead, because most of the time in winter, brighter days are rare.
As the month draws to a close, we can take a moment to reflect. Despite its gloomy reputation, February serves as a ‘test’ to see how we as people can be resilient. It forces us to push through the exhaustion, find warmth in friendships, and appreciate the little moments in our days that can bring us that ‘light’ we crave. The ‘light’ we crave in winter doesn’t have to be from the sun, the light can be found in conversations with acquaintances who understand your struggles, and going out to do something you like, the light that is missing from winter isn’t gone, it’s something we have to find.
With March now on the horizon, that sense of excitement for brighter days overwhelms many others because the days become longer and the temperatures have already risen. The “Vampire” might have sucked the life out of us for three weeks, but distractions seem to be the key to understanding that you can’t do life if ups and downs aren’t an experience. Some may have bigger feelings than others, and noticing the signs of SAD during the cooler months is crucial.
SAD primarily occurs in the winter when days are shorter and the sun hides more than normal, and the lack of sunlight can set off a chemical change in the brain releasing those symptoms of depression. This disorder is not uncommon, however, noticing the signs of SAD can be helpful to your peers. What’s important is to acknowledge that some may struggle more than others during this time, and to recognize lower mood and energy as red flags. While this disorder is not uncommon, being aware of its effects can help us support one another and navigate the colder months with a sense of understanding and care.
As we approach the first month of spring, the weather welcomes us with the temperature being in the 50s, and the sun doesn’t seem to hide. With that comes a renewed sense of motivation, energy, and warmth-reminders that having those bigger thoughts is only temporary.
