As the cold weather sets in, students may come to find they are dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder, a much more serious problem than the typical winter blues.

According to the Mayo Clinic Web site, Seasonal Affective Disorder, also know as SAD, is a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. People who suffer from SAD become depressed as a result of the weather.

Graduate student Kristen Bunner has seen the effects of SAD firsthand. She has an aunt who moved to Cleveland from Argentina who deals with SAD every winter and Bunner said it bothers her too.

‘Sometime I think I’m affected by it the same way she is,’ she said. ‘Maybe if it’s starting to affect their life to the point where they can’t function, they could move somewhere warm.’

Some students are aware of SAD, but do not know how serious it can be. Freshman Corrie Jones said she has heard of SAD, but didn’t know how serious it is.

‘I don’t know how people who have it would deal with it,’ she said. It’s not like you can change the weather.’

University psychologist Stefani Hathaway said SAD is more of a problem for people during the winter months.

‘There is greater depression during months that are cold and darker,’ she said.

Hathaway said it is hard to tell how many students actually suffer from SAD, but ‘it’s fairly common.’ Because SAD has the same symptoms as major depression, the University does not differentiate students suffering from SAD from students suffering from major depression.

The symptoms of SAD include anxiety, change of appetite, difficulty in concentrating and a lack of energy, according to the Mayo Clinic Web site.

SAD can be treated through counseling from a professional, medication, or light therapy, which involves a person using special lights that are similar to natural sunlight. Hathaway said that this can help because it deals with one of the main causes of SAD.

‘One of the causes has been the relative lack of light,’ she said.

To avoid SAD, Hathaway said that students should try to stay in natural sunlight as much as possible, stay relatively active, and most importantly, utilize social support by talking to friends, family and professionals.

‘It’s mainly feeling like you have some support,’ she said.

Students suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder can go to the Counseling Center for help, located at 422 Saddlemire Student Services at Conklin.’