THE POST Shorter days and colder nights in the winter can cause more than just the winter blues for some. It could be more serious. Seasonal effective disorder is estimated to affect 6 percent of Americans a year and is usually accompanied by social withdrawal, irritability, low or extreme appetite and low mood, said Jerry Maurath, a counselor at Counseling and Psychological Services at Hudson Health Center. Winter depression is caused by an absence of daylight and a decrease of activity after the holidays, Maurath said.
Winter depression is most dramatic around the polar regions, where nights can last for months.
Brad Berryman, a sophomore accounting major, said he often feels sad and edgy in the winter. Treatment for depression varies from person to person, Maurath said. Some people can be helped by cognitive therapy, which focuses on thought patterns. Other people are helped by sitting in front of a special fluorescent light. Cognitive treatment uses positive self talk and encourages people to get out and do things they enjoy.