Counseling Corner
The Counseling Corner is here to provide you with strategies for dealing with day to day issues.
THE WINTER BLUES
Does winter make you sad? Do you find it hard to get motivated when it is cold and gray outside?
Winter in Connecticut can be beautiful and magical… the blanket of snow making everything look clean and bright, and more sleep-in mornings due to snow days and snow delays. But there’s also less daylight, cold to arctic temperatures, activities canceled by snow storms, and you can’t even wear your flip flops. Getting through the winter months can be tough for some people. Sometimes you might feel a little sad, or even feel more serious depression.
You may or may not care about being “normal”, but the truth is that feeling a little or a lot sadder in the winter is very common. There is even a name for winter sadness- seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This just means that in the winter, you feel sad or depressed more than you do in other seasons. Everyone experiences ups and downs in mood, but SAD means less of the ups and more of the downs. Doctors think the cause of SAD is lack of sunlight, which causes problems with the brain chemicals serotonin and melatonin. As a matter of fact, one of the main treatments for SAD is light therapy, which involves sitting in front of a light box for a certain amount of time each day.
SAD can become a major problem when those mild winter blues grow extreme and interfere with your life in a serious and negative way. How can you tell if you have SAD?
~Do you feel sad most of the time for a couple of weeks at a time?
~Do you cry or get upset way more often than usual?
~Have you lost interest in things you normally enjoy?
~Are you often tired for no reason?
~Do you find it harder than usual to concentrate?
~Are you withdrawing from friends and families?
If you answered yes to several of these questions, you may be more than just sad, you may be depressed. If this depression starts in fall and ends in spring, you probably have SAD. Even if you don’t think you have SAD, but winter just gets you down, the suggestions below may help.
5 Ways to beat the winter blues:
*Let the sun shine in! When there is sun, use it…open the shades, stand in the sunny spot- try to get at least a 30 minute dose of sun on the days when it is shining.
*Exercise. Cold days may make you want to hibernate- but moving your body will improve your mood. It does not need to be marathon training, just take the dog for a walk, or whatever works for you. Exercise produces endorphins, chemicals that make you naturally feel happier and more relaxed.
*Do something that interests you. Is there a hobby you have been neglecting? Something you want to learn how to do? Get your mind excited and engaged.
*Make a list of people who support you, and you like to be with. Try to spend time with them. Do not isolate yourself.
*Have fun. You know what they say, laughter is the best medicine. You may not feel like having fun, or feel like anything will be fun. But try just faking it, play that game, or watch that comedy, and you may surprise yourself by having fun and feeling better.
Remember, feeling sad is a normal part of being human. But if you feel sad most of the time, and your sadness is interfering with living your life, please ask for help from your parents, school counselor or another trusted adult. You can call (860) 354-0047) or email (counseling@youthagency.org) the counselors here at the Youth Agency for questions or referrals for help. You can also call the Covenant House nineline, a confidential national youth hotline where you can ask questions and get advice. (1-800-999-9999)
(If you have questions or suggestions for the Counseling Corner, please contact our Counseling Dept at the Youth Agency)