Counseling & Psychological Services

The winter blues, and its more severe counterpart, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), can change the way a person thinks, reacts, and deals with everyday challenges. Those suffering from the winter blues fall into a depressed mood each year in the fall and continue to feel depressed throughout the winter and into the early spring, when these feelings disappear. Nearly 25% of all college students across the United States suffer from the winter blues and this percentage increases at higher latitudes or more cloudy areas of the country. As the days become shorter and the hours of sunlight decrease, sufferers of the winter blues experience changes in their mood, energy level, and ability to concentrate due to decreased levels of serotonin. In addition, many environmental stressors related to the winter holidays can increase feelings of sadness and stress. Some common stressors during the holidays include family conflict, financial strain, missing loved ones, and travel.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, SAD is marked by symptoms of depression profound enough to seriously affect work, school and relationships. SAD has been linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain brought on by the shortening of daylight hours and a lack of sunlight in winter, with the most difficult months for most SAD sufferers typically being January and February. Most people with the winter blues do not have SAD.

Signs of the Winter Blues:

• Difficulty waking up in the mornings as the days get shorter
• Difficulty concentrating and thinking creatively in comparison to the summer months
• Incorrectly blaming oneself for things that go wrong
• Difficulty performing tasks that normally seem to be easy/enjoyable
• Feelings of sadness and decreased interest in previously enjoyable activities
• Increased craving for carbohydrate-rich food like chocolate and sodas

Things You Can Do:

• If you anticipate that the winter months or holidays will be difficult for you, plan ahead. Begin a journal, plan time to take care of yourself, or start a new hobby.
• A great way to beat the winter blues is to get plenty of exercise to improve your mood and reduce stress. Exercising combats feelings of sadness by increasing the body’s levels of serotonin.
• Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Be aware that excessive drinking will only increase your feelings of depression.

Help is Available

It may benefit you to talk to someone at the Counseling Center. Stop by during our Initial Consultation hours Monday-Friday 8:30-11:00 a.m. & 1:00-4:00 p.m., or call (828) 262-3180. We can talk with you about your concerns. You may also learn more by checking our other links, or completing an online screening.

Crisis Services

If you or another AppState student is experiencing suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts or experiencing trauma in regard to a sexual assault, you may contact us after hours by calling the Counseling Center at (828) 262-3180 and select the option to speak with the counselor on call.