You’re irritable. You’re down. You have this feeling you can’t shake. The days are shorter, and the sun shines for fewer hours, which can throw some people’s biochemistry into a tailspin, causing a phenomenon known as seasonal affective disorder – aptly abbreviated SAD.

Kathy Solko, licensed independent social worker, said that the intake of ultraviolet rays through the retina stimulates the production of endorphins in their brain. When fewer of these endorphins are produced, people can start to slow down.

SAD is one of the many types of depression, said Joyce Davidson, associate director of Student Counseling Services.

She said depression can be brought on by many factors, and “certainly the reduction of light is one of them.”

SAD is not just a case of the winter blues and cannot simply be dismissed.

“The thing about seasonal affective disorder is it is a depression,” Davidson said.

SAD is also a spectrum disorder, which means cases of it vary in severity. Some people may feel only slightly down, while others sink into a deep depression.

“There are people that notice it, and then there’s the spectrum where it starts to interfere with their lives,” Solko said.

The symptoms of SAD are similar to those of depression. A person with SAD may withdraw socially and feel down, Davidson said. A person experiencing SAD may also notice a change in their eating and sleeping habits.

“The hallmark of a depressive disorder is the lack of enjoyment,” Solko said.

Many treatments are available to relieve SAD, which include typical treatments associated with depression, such as antidepressant medication and counseling. Both are crucial to the treatment of SAD.

Medication helps regulate a person’s biochemistry, and counseling helps change a person’s thinking patterns and habits that may be contributing to their symptoms, Davidson said.

Light treatment is also recommended to people diagnosed with SAD. Light treatments help supplement the lack of sunlight, which is lost in the winter months and is the main cause of SAD.

The treatment can be administered through the use of a light box, which imitates outdoor light and helps relieve SAD symptoms.

Another option in light treatment is installing full-spectrum light bulbs. These special bulbs can be purchased at Lowe’s, 120 Airport Rd., or Wheatsfield Cooperative, 413 Douglas Ave., Solko said.

Withdrawing socially can be a hindrance to people with SAD. “People hide under the covers – it’s almost like a hibernation,” Solko said.

Solko recommends scheduling at least one outing a week and sticking with school and work schedules.

By doing this, a person will stay socially engaged and be less likely to fall into depression.

Recently, some psychologists and mental health experts have denounced the existence of SAD, but Solko disagrees.

“In my work, mental health, it definitely exists. People have a harder time in the winter,” Solko said.

If you feel you or someone you know may be suffering from SAD, the Student Counseling Center can be contacted at 294-5056, and the Thielen Student Health Center is available at 294-5801.