January and February are great months for snow skiing, ice skating, and enjoying a nice, hot cup of hot chocolate. However, these months are not sunshine and rainbows for most people, especially high school students. January and February are often the hardest months for the winter blues. But what are the winter blues?
According to Lyndsay Adams, the Lewis Cass Mental Health Coordinator, the winter blues are “feelings of sadness or lack of interest due to the cold temperature outside.” The lack of sunlight and vitamin D causes people to feel unmotivated and sad. This makes sense because vitamin D creates serotonin, or “the happy hormone,” in your brain. This hormone improves mood, but when it is too cold to go outside, an individual is “trapped” inside all day and cannot experience the sunlight.
Other symptoms of the winter blues, as stated by Nebraska University Health Center.com, include: losing enjoyment in things that used to be fun, withdrawing from people, oversleeping an hour or more every day, appetite changes, especially craving foods that are high in carbohydrates, tiredness or low energy, difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions. If an individual is experiencing any of these, they need to know they are not alone.
Cooler weather and less daylight during the winter months can cause people to feel unmotivated and disengaged in their everyday lives. Students should never feel embarrassed or ashamed if they are experiencing these winter blues. According to UCDavisHealth.com, 10-20% of teens experience the winter blues, and the numbers seem to be rising, so it is completely normal to have these feelings.
Whenever I am feeling unmotivated, physical activity always tends to get me out of a slump. A nice, easy jog on the treadmill, or outside when it is nice enough, always boosts my mood and motivates me. Although running is not for everyone, there are many other ways to help improve one’s mood. Hanging out with friends and family helps uplift me in gloomy times. If it is possible, it is important to try to get out of the house if you are feeling this way.
When I asked Lewis Cass Mental Health Coordinator, what are some ways to help students reduce their winter blues, Adams responded with, “Make sure you are still doing things you enjoy and spending time outside when the temps are nice. Talk to others about your feelings or mood. There is nothing to be embarrassed about this time of year in regards to mental health and weather. It’s not easy being cooped up inside, so it’s important to find activities that interest you, whether that’s going to the gym, bowling, going to see a movie, etc.”
The winter blues is a topic many people do not understand is a normal feeling, but it should still be talked about more often. If an individual ever thinks they are feeling more than just the normal winter blues, they should reach out and talk to a trusted adult or possibly consider professional help. Although people may not want to talk about their feelings of sadness this time of year, it is always important to remember that if they are experiencing these symptoms of the winter blues, they are not alone, and many other students are feeling the same way.
