Mercurial weather affects students’ moods

Loss of daylight, temperature changes to blame

Ilyse Kramer Staff Writer

Over the past few weeks, the weather has undergone dramatic changes. Just when it seemed like winter was here, we experienced a second August. This Indian summer was followed by torrential downpours of rain that seemed to last for 40 days and 40 nights.

Do the weather’s sudden shifts cause the moods of students to experience similar fluctuations? After all, it is impossible to ignore one’s environment. Shelby Trenkelbach ’08 remarked, “All the transitions in weather make me feel grumpy. I feel like I’ve been cranky since Daylight Savings Time.” Eric Langhans ’08 also has weather-induced mood swings. “I feel like the weather is a tease taunting me,” he said.

In contrast, Jennifer Raite ’08 commented, “I am from Syracuse, NY, one of the cloudiest cities in the United States. The weather here in Poughkeepsie is pleasing in comparison.” Alyssa Michek ’08 complained, “Since it is dark at four o’clock in the afternoon, it is difficult to go to sleep at a normal time. This makes me feel frustrated.”

The depression that certain people experience during the winter is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. A treatment for those suffering from SAD is exposure to bright white fluorescent light. Light therapy is believed to affect the levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter linked to depression. “I have self-diagnosed Seasonal Affective Disorder,” stated Caitlin Burke ’08. Those serotonin light bulbs make my life incredible.”

Metcalf offers information about SAD and gives students access to a lightbox that synthesizes natural light to increase mood.

The motivation to get up in the morning and go to class also tends to decrease as the weather becomes inclement. Most recently, the cold rainy weather leaves students longing to curl up in bed rather than sit through another long lecture.

“The shift to colder weather makes it difficult for me to force myself to get out of bed. I’d much rather snuggle under my covers than go to class in the morning,” remarked Amanda Bell ’08.