Many people, including transition students, experience the winter blues—a sadness the colder, darker days of winter bring. This feeling can intensify into Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression linked to seasonal shifts. The National Institutes of Health has found that decreased daylight hours contribute to SAD. Every year, educators like you face the challenge of supporting students suffering from the winter blues and SAD while also taking care of your own winter wellness.
The Symptoms
The symptoms of SAD include:
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Persistently low or empty mood
- Feelings of hopelessness or despair
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Tearfulness
Ways to Help Yourself and Students Cope
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the risk of SAD increases with age but is not unheard of in people under 20 years of age. If you are an educator struggling with SAD, this will impact your ability to facilitate the best education possible for students with an IEP. Clinicians in the field offer the following coping strategies:
- Spend time outside or near a sunny window whenever possible.
- Set realistic and short-term goals to increase feelings of successfulness.
- Resist the urge to withdraw from others.
- Talk to a trusted friend about your feelings.
- Spend time doing things that make you happy, such as a hobby or pastime.
- Exercise regularly.
Resources
- Nemours Kids Health —79 Resources for Managing Seasonal Affective Disorder
- The Mayo Clinic — Coping and support for SAD
- Johns Hopkins Medicine — Seasonal Affective Disorder
- National Institute of Mental Health — SAD fact sheet