The wintertime is full of things to look forward to and enjoy, however as the days get darker and the Seattle weather begins to kick in, you may find yourself a little down in the dumps. Whether it’s not finding your usual sports practice as gratifying, or barely being able to get out of bed, the wintertime can be difficult in many ways. However, this time provides a great opportunity to focus on your mental health.
Turns out these unwanted emotions you may be experiencing are connected to the inner workings of the brain. Ms. Carlos, the intern for the counselors at Prep, explains how “the reduction in sunlight impacts our brain chemistry as it reduces vitamin D, a precursor to serotonin, one of our happy hormones.” This biological point shows why we may feel these depressive emotions during the darker months. As this happy hormone in the brain decreases, your mood will often change with it.
Some signs of our emotions that reflect this change in our brain include a variety of symptoms that can be different for everyone. It’s also common for these symptoms to fall under certain themes and groups. “Sometimes you may feel more irritability, more frustration, even feelings of guilt, helplessness, or worthlessness” Ms. Carlos explains. On top of the emotional side, some symptoms can be more social and include things like social withdrawal or just wanting to stay in bed” says Ms. Carlos. It’s important to recognize these symptoms and feelings you may be experiencing so you can better manage them and prioritize your mental health.
Different people enjoy different weather; this fact is also shown in the Prep community. “I feed off the weather. If I have a bad day at least the weather is good but when I have a bad day, and the weather is bad then that’s just not a good combo” says Pia Munar ’26. Many students don’t enjoy the darker months in terms of weather; however, some students do prefer it. “I honestly like the cold and the dark, but I do agree that I feel some effects of seasonal sadness which makes me more tired to do school and work” Gabi Smith ‘25 explains. Even though some prefer this time of year, there’s no doubting that the darkness does have some impact on our brain which then can impact our emotions.
So how can we combat seasonal sadness? There are many ways one can prioritize and maintain positive mental health. “Students should prioritize sleep, exercise, and nutrition” Ms. Carlos explains. “For exercise, it doesn’t have to be two hours of intense exercise every day but even just finding time for a 20- or 30-minute walk”. It can be hard to find time for yourself, even finding time to get at least 8 hours of sleep can be hard, but it is something that must be prioritized. Focusing on mental health is so important especially during this time of year and the counseling department will always provide great support to all students.
