Seasonal Depression: Don’t self-diagnose just because you dislike the cold

During the summer, the stress of having a paper turned in by 11:59 p.m. is off my shoulders, I don’t have to bundle up in layers of warm clothing and I dig the tan skin look. By the time it reaches November, the stress is back as it gets dark before I finish my homework, the hours of sleep decrease and the color in my face begins to fade — I’m just not as happy.

But my “winter blues” don’t amount to the severe struggle of diagnosed seasonal depression — and people shouldn’t jump straight to self-diagnosing.

Seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder, is a disorder that affects half a million people in the United States according to Cleveland Clinic. This disorder usually begins to affect people in the fall, worsening throughout the winter, then starts to fade come spring-time.

With the severity of some people’s seasonal depression, it is insensitive of people to make comments about having seasonal depression when they don’t actually have it. There is a big difference between having a disorder and hating the cold.

Season depression affects many aspects of people’s lives, making it hard for some to even leave their beds during winter months. It affects feelings and sleep patterns and is mentally and physically draining — and there’s a big difference between seasonal depression and not liking the freezing trek from the sophomore lot.

Simply being in a bad mood and jumping to self diagnosing isn’t the answer. Some people are dramatic and say things such as “I hate seasonal depression,” just because they are mad it’s cold, while others are legitimately suffering from it.

I’m not going to lie — I can’t stand the cold and there’ve been times where I’ve considered myself a victim of seasonal depression, but there’s a difference between thinking you have it and being clinically diagnosed.