With the shift in season, one’s mood can start to change with the weather. There are a few different ways to battle seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Associate Director for Prevention and Wellness Aubrey Driscoll defines SAD as a type of depression that "occurs typically during certain seasons of the year." She said it occurs most during winter months.
Driscoll and the Ball State Counseling Center gave some tips and tricks on how to stay happy during the later months and how to cope with SAD.
Individual or group therapy sessions
Driscoll said sometimes when people get emotions associated with SAD they tend to isolate themselves from others making it harder to get the help they may need. When we talk it out with others it helps us not withdraw from those who care.
“Leaning on them can be helpful,” Driscoll said.
Ball State also offers free and confidential counseling services for students. Students can schedule an appointment with a counseloronline via the counceling center website.
According to VeryWell Health, therapy can have many benefits. One of the benefits is an improvement in communication skills, sleep and physical well-being.
There are also many different types of therapy, some of them group and some individual. Each of these has its benefits.
Light Therapy
Since the later months don’t have as much sunlight and the days are shorter, Driscoll recommends practicing llight therapy.
Light therapy works by someone sitting in front of a lamp and receiving the benefits as if it were sunlight. According to Mayo Clinic, light therapy is a way to get an extra bit of sunlight during the later months.
Driscoll recommends that if someone wishes to try this one should talk to their health provider just to make sure there isn’t any reason why an individual should avoid this.
“Light boxes are designed to deliver a therapeutic dose of bright light to treat symptoms of SAD,” she said.
On and Off-Campus Resources
Ball State offers counseling services free for students and a relaxation room on the third floor of Lucina Hall. The room has massage chairs and coloring sheets and is open for students from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
There is also an app called “Together All” which is a ‘peer-to-peer’ app. Together All allows students to talk to other students who might have similar struggles as them.
To reach Ball State’s consulting center follow the link to their LinkTree for more information about them.
RELATED: Addressing Seasonal Depression: Resources Available for Ball State Students
Contact Shelby Anderson via email at sanderson9@bsu.edu.
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