Seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is a type of depression that is connected to the change in climate or season. Symptoms can be especially found among freshmen and students living in the dorms, given the small living area and lack of personal space.
SAD causes mood changes and a decrease in energy, and typically starts in fall lasting until the end of winter. These symptoms worsen in the dorms considering anyone living there doesn’t have their own space, might be rooming with someone they don’t know, and can be cluttered with so much stuff in such a small room.
College can seem so exciting from media, alumni, and other sources, but no one talks about the true difficulties of living in the dorms. As freshmen, there is no other choice unless they are lucky enough to have a relative in town to live with.
Living in the dorms can be a hard adjustment for incoming freshmen. It’s easy when the weather is nice and they can spend most of their day outside doing other activities, but once winter rolls around and daytime is shortened, it can be more challenging to find motivation to go outside.
Nolan Buckhout, a freshman who recently left the dorms after one semester of living in them said, “Moving out has allowed me space and freedom. The dorms are dull and only allow so much space for my personalization,”
“Having my own dorm room was nice, I was able to have friends over, but it was easy to fall into the cycle of waking up late and lounging around all day.”
As freshmen are new to independent life, they can notice an increase in anxiety, stress, and depression. All of these things can lead to binge eating, abnormal sleep patterns, and impulsive decision making because of the idea of now being on their own.
The Mayo Clinic reports that up to 44% of college students experience depression, with SAD accounting for 13% of that.
It is common for freshmen to feel more homesick than other students because it’s their first time away from home. This adds to the depression and all the other symptoms they may experience.
Whether sleeping most of the day, not sleeping at all, eating more than usual or skipping meals, students who live in the dorms can find themselves feeling isolated and melancholy.
Drue Mirich, another freshman, who currently lives in the dorms quoted, “I have noticed a lot of change in my mental health. It has definitely went down since moving into the dorms,”
“I have tried to better my mental health by going to the gym more and trying to stay more active. I have also tried switching studying areas.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, contact Human resources at (307)766-2215 or go to https://www.uwyo.edu/hr/ for more.
