Geena Campobasso
Asst. Features Editor

Cloud-covered skies, rain trickling down the windows, and a gray, gloomy atmosphere is what one sees on a rainy day. The fatigued and melancholy mood takes over. The gloominess of a rainy day along with other seasonal changes can often affect moods.

More severe mood changes due to weather are sometimes diagnosed as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

SAD is a syndrome that usually occurs during the winter months when there is less daylight. The lack of sunlight causes the body to be out of “sync.” It upsets the body and affects different hormonal levels. It usually stems from lack of bright light in the winter.

According to Essortment.com, some symptoms of SAD are depression, sadness, fatigue, excessive sleeping, difficulty getting up in the morning, loss of appetite or increased eating of carbohydrates, decreased activity and socialization and more irritability.

Sophomore Ali Shaw is one such student who deals with these symptoms.

“Well when you wake up in the morning and it’s really cold outside– that puts me in a bad mood,” Shaw said.

Senior Jack Haben experiences mood changes due to specific weather changes
as well.

“I feel that when it rains a person is more prone to be in a bad mood,” Haben said. And when it’s sunny I’m more likely to be happy.”

In the summer, due to longer periods of sunshine with stronger UV content, many people tend to feel happier and are more inclined to be active.
Even GBS science teacher David Lieberman believes that weather has a significant affect on one’s mood. “I think in the winter time people are a lot more depressed,” he said.

According to Essortment.com, there are treatments to cure SAD syndrome. UV light therapy is oftenn suggested for short periods of time under the care of a physician to lift a patient’s mood.

According to Lumie.com, an easier solution is simply to be in bright light everyday. That can even mean taking a vacation, whether that be skiing or a warm sunny location. If not, simply sitting under a bright light is sufficient. A 2500 lux (lux is the technical measure of brightness) bulb is needed to get adequate results.