White Winters Bring Some Blues

Winter is almost here, and people are getting ready to fight the cold.

“Just layer everything 7,000 layers,” said MSUM student Amira Lloyd.

Lloyd says when wintertime blows into the area it can bring more than a physical battle.

“If you’re like you don’t have enough sleep in your system it’s all worse and you’re even more like feeling down in the dumps,” Lloyd said.

Medical experts found the number of University of Minnesota students with Seasonal Affective Disorder increased from 2.8 percent in 2007 to 5.5 percent this year.

Local psychologists say universities aren’t the only places that see lower temperatures lowering people’s spirits.

“Coming into the less lighted months we do see an increase in depressive symptoms. A lot of the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder are very closely related to the symptoms of depression,” said Family Institute Licensed Psychologist Brian Moe.

MSUM student Tyler Pyle says the winter winds can knock down his mood.

“I get more depressed I feel down, I don’t have energy to do homework or go out with friends, so it makes it really hard to do stuff,” Pyle said.

While students may not like stepping out into the cold, they are finding ways to deal with the disorder.

“It’s important to reach out when you’re feeling that way because otherwise it just gets worse,” Lloyd said.

While the sun goes down earlier and temperatures starting falling, students are finding ways to bring the heat in fighting back against winter.

Psychologist Brian Moe recommends people try light therapy to help with Seasonal Affective Disorder.