Down with the sickness

I can tell you exactly what all this snow makes me not want to do: go to the bars, go to class, go to parties, go out to dinner with my Friday night sushi partner, go to work or basically leave my womb-like nest of a bed at all. The clouds, the wind, the freezing rain? I say, “No, thank you” to all that. I prefer my favorite sweat pants and mediocre Saturday night television to the company of my roommate and her crew at the Video Saloon. However, as fun and comforting a day or two of crawling away from the world and catching up on sleep can be, I, like 10 million other Americans, have to be extremely careful with that mode of behavior, because I’ve been known to get too SAD. \nSeasonal affective disorder, often known as the “winter blues,” runs in my family. If you’re like us, the tilt of the Earth away from the sun at this latitude can make the months between November and March a real struggle. You experience the same confusing switch of personalities every year. The snow comes and though you might be a generally positive, perky person, your motivation plummets. And it’s more than just not wanting to go out in the cold. Your mood becomes darker, your thoughts, more desperate. Some days even brushing your teeth is a real victory. Couple those symptoms with the stress of trying to graduate with a decent enough grade point average for law school, and the prospect of simply lacing up your snow boots can be too much to handle. You know you’ll feel better come spring, but that doesn’t make the dark months any easier.\nI’m lucky. I have a strong support system of people who understand that when I get in those dark moods, as much as I protest, the arm-twisting to go out is exactly what I need. \nOthers are not so lucky. A friend of mine recently committed suicide. No one even knew he was depressed, because the rest of the year, he had the energy and exuberance of a 14-year-old with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. We’re still shocked. \nThe profound feeling of being alone and not being understood experienced by those with SAD too often has such dire consequences. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Seasonal affective disorder is such a common occurrence, that odds are, you or someone you love experiences it every year. If you are like me, there is so much help for you. You are not alone. The good people at the IU Health Center Counseling and Psychological Services are equipped with plenty of experience to help you understand and manage your disorder. There are tons of yoga centers in Bloomington along with a plethora of classes at the Student Recreational Sports Center to help you get out and release the endorphins and self-love that are known to make us become well again. And don’t forget your friends. They love you; so let them know how you’re really feeling. You might be surprised at how understanding they will be.