Syracuse University almost has it all. The one factor that may send potential students running? The weather.

For those who decide to brave the cold and attend SU, the weather lives up to its reputation. With an average snowfall of 124.7 inches each winter, Syracuse winters will make heavy-duty snow boots and down jackets well worth the investment. Every seasoned local and student knows to layer the layers, double-sock your boots with traction to avoid slipping and bruising your body or ego and pay a visit to SU Health Services for an annual flu shot. But preventative measures for mental health are a little less commonly known.

One mental health risk people face in the winter months is seasonal affective disorder. SAD is a type of depression that varies with the seasons, starting in the late fall and early winter and dissipating during the spring and summer, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal, the first person to describe SAD, also identifies a milder form of SAD called the “winter blues.”

Rosenthal told The New York Times that people often overlook the disorder.

“We have a tendency to want to blame everything on psychological causes,” Rosenthal said in the article. “We overlook the obvious, which is that it’s dark as pea soup outside.”

On his own web page, Rosenthal said the disorder is mainly caused by a lack of sunlight, so more instances of SAD naturally occur further from the equator, where this “pea soup” darkness dominates more of people’s days.

The research group Mayo Clinic describes commonly accepted potential factors contributing to SAD. All factors stem from lack of sunlight, including a decrease in serotonin, a neurotransmitter affecting mood; increased melatonin, a hormone regulating sleep; and disrupted circadian rhythm, or biological clock. Any combination can lead to symptoms of SAD, including irritability, anxiety, mood changes, sleep problems, fatigue, overeating and depression.

According to Mental Health America, 5 percent of the U.S. population experiences SAD. People living in darker regions, like New York, can have up to 10 percent of their population affected by SAD while people in sunny Florida or Southern California have nearly zero percent.

Although most people do not suffer from SAD, the lack of sunlight and at times, miserable conditions of winter, can still take a toll on mental health. Just as you lace up your winter boots to walk to class, you should take everyday steps to protect your mental health from winter as well.

Steps for a healthier mental state in the winter begin with healthy eating habits. While succumbing to unhealthy but delicious comfort foods in winter is fun, it will just contribute to the sluggishness you already feel.

Skipping the gym for a cozy couch also proves problematic, since exercising can reduce symptoms of depression by increasing feel-good neurotransmitters in the brain. Taking in sunlight whenever you can is essential. If you look outside and see the sun popping through the clouds, even on a cold day, take advantage of the opportunity and get outside to boost your serotonin levels.

If you need a mood boost, invest in some light therapy. Rosenthal’s method of exposing yourself to cool white fluorescent light for 20 to 60 minutes a day can supplement the natural light you’re losing, which helps regulate emotions.

Stress heightens the symptoms of winter blues, so practicing mindfulness and reducing stress becomes more important in winter months. These practices will not replace a doctor if you have SAD, but they can alleviate some of the blues that come with winter.

Mastering a Syracuse winter not only means acquiring the right attire or finding the coziest place on campus to study, but also getting through the 124.7 inches of snow with a healthy and happy mind.

Published on January 24, 2018 at 11:25 pm