Issue 1 Spring 2022

Treatment
There are a wide range of treatments for SAD, none
of which are 100% successful. Phototherapy, or bright
light therapy, is one of the most effective and involves
being exposed to intense lights for up to four hours a
day, which helps suppress the brain’s secretion of
melatonin. Some patients also resort to
antidepressants, which can mitigate symptoms but
also cause unwanted effects. Unfortunately, many
people do not recognize that they have SAD or do not
feel comfortable going to a doctor, so their disorder is
left untreated.
Do you personally experience a notable turning point in
the spring where your mood lightens again?
“Definitely yes! My tutor noticed a very visible shift
between the winter and spring. When I go outside and
sit in the sun, I become much happier and more
relaxed.”
-- SHS student
Seasonal Depression at SHS
Most diagnoses of seasonal depression are within
the age group between adolescence and early
adulthood, notably high school students.
We can see that students are already dealing with
sleep deprivation, so a lack of Vitamin D in the
winter only exacerbates moodiness and lethargy.
The extensive stressors and copious amounts of
work not only damage a student’s sleep schedule,
but also add to a student’s negative neuro-reactions
to melatonin and serotonin.
Scarsdale is notorious for its reputation of an
environment centered around competitiveness. This
atmosphere often creates toxicity and a suboptimal
atmosphere for students to cope with their stress
and mental health, leading to worse symptoms.
What are some words you would use to describe
your seasonal depression?
“drowsy, deflating, defeating”
“overwhelming, lonely, and numbing”
“awful, soul-crushing”
To those who deal with SAD, follow the advice of
Jonna Jinton, a Youtuber who lives in Sweden and
has to face almost complete darkness for six
months every year:
Instead of trying to fight seasonal depression, we can try to appreciate the change in seasons.
A flower would never force itself to bloom during winter, so why should we?
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