Feelings Of Autumn

Accepting change is something that takes time and it often occurs in stages. I think it is safe to assume most of us have left home, some great distances away from our support systems. As you’ve changed throughout the months, you’ve likely outgrown many relationships and environments central to your development. I find these universal experiences are captured in Maya Angelou’s “Late October,” poem.

  Image source

Carefully

the leaves of autumn

sprinkle down the tinny

sound of little dyings

and skies sated

of roseate dawns

of ruddy sunsets                                                                                       

roil ceaselessly in

cobweb greys and turn

to black

for comfort.

Only lovers

see the fall

a signal end to endings

a gruffish gesture alerting

those who will not be alarmed

that we begin to stop

in order to begin

Again.                             

Late October describes Autumn, its colors, sounds, and sentiment with rich imagery. She illustrates seasonal changes that occur in the Fall and emphasizes that change is a natural part of life. Then the end of the poem turns to relationships and ends so evocative: “We begin to stop in order simply to begin again.” This statement allows us to consider how an ending simply makes space for a new beginning and in difficult moments I occasionally go back to that quote to shift my perspective on change. 

Leaves are falling, and changing, chunky sweaters are being brought back out, and the holidays are right around the corner. All of that sounds lovely, right? Well, our feelings about Fall are usually a little more complicated than these simple observations. There’s something strangely spiritual about watching the world slowly become dormant, something profound in the unceasing crisp air. The Fall is a significant time of rebirth and transformation and some aspects of the season make me wish fall lasted forever, others make me want it to last only a few days. 

As we move deeper into the Fall season, this particular time is when things begin to rapidly progress in the semester and motivation often treads on a decline. Some might feel a little more homesick as we all await Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, while others may face increased anxiety regarding upcoming midterms or projects. Regardless, we are entering a time where as college students, the lack of motivation and exhaustion creeps up. This seems to be even more prevalent for the fall semester. Maybe I say this due to the influence of the cold weather, or the fact that a lot of people are affected by the seasonal change in regards to mental health. Along with the transition of seasons and entering more gloomy weather, seasonal depression has come up as a topic of discussion in my life, specifically Seasonal Affective Disorder. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is a form of depression commonly triggered by the diminishing daylight of fall and winter and can occur for several months. For college students, the fall and winter season also brings an array of academic and social stressors that can contribute to symptoms of depression. Unlike the winter blues, students with SAD experience more severe symptoms associated with depression, such as hopelessness, extreme fatigue, changes in appetite, and social isolation. The Mayo Clinic reports that up to 44% of college students experience depression and about 5% of the US population (over 16 million people) experience SAD. 

image source

The change of seasons can be exciting and whether the warm weather is finally letting up or the holidays are approaching, it is not uncommon to welcome the change. However, people impacted by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may not feel this way. For some, the knowledge that a new season is starting, such as leaves falling or the temperature changing, can prompt anxiety and increase symptoms of SAD. It is not known for sure what exactly causes seasonal depression, however there are factors that can contribute to it, like reduced sunlight. During the fall and winter months, the sun is a lot harder to access. The time changes, colder temperatures making it harder for outdoor activities, and limiting natural Vitamin D impact serotonin and melatonin levels, all affecting your general mood. Other mental health conditions: Those with other mental health conditions like Bipolar Disorder or Anxiety Disorder for example have higher chances of experiencing seasonal depression. It is typical for SAD symptoms to begin in early adulthood, making college students particularly susceptible. However, there are many proven treatment options like light therapy. Since it is concluded that a lack of sunlight can be a trigger for SAD, bright lights can be used to help reset that balance in the body and help to naturally produce serotonin. Psychotherapy and working with a mental health professional can be very effective in reducing stress and anxiety related to seasonal changes and seasonal depression. Medication; for some, medication is the best treatment for SAD. It can be used in addition to light therapy and talk therapy for certain circumstances. Switching up your routine and practicing self-care are also good ways to make the transition of seasons a bit easier by keeping yourself busy. As college students, we can also explore on-campus mental health support groups or group therapy to help cope with seasonal depression or meet others experiencing similar things.  

Along with SAD, there are other factors to consider as we head deeper into the fall semester and enter the colder months. Given the pressure of college, it’s hard to find healthy and effective ways to cope if you are struggling with mental health. If you are experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, or depression, it is important to put energy into taking care of yourself and your emotional and physical well-being. We are nearly at the midpoint of the semester and it seems the mid-semester slump is very much present. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by your course load, stressed about exams, maybe having trouble managing relationships, feeling down, or unmotivated, I hope this serves as a reminder that you are not alone. It is important to reach out for help and take care of yourself if you are struggling. In the midst of the chaos Fall may bring to you, never lose sight of how far you have come and all that you have accomplished. 

Change is one thing that is constant in life. Sometimes it can be amazing, but sometimes, not so much. Whether it’s adjusting to college life or going through particularly tough seasons of the year, dealing with these transition periods can be difficult. It is important to slow down and give time to yourself, your creativity and foster things that are beneficial to your health and well-being. In the meantime try to appreciate the beauty of this colorful season, because the leaves are not a warning sign of bad things to come but part of the joy that comes with Autumn.

Sources: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/college-students-and-depression

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/seasonal-affective-disorder

Late October by Maya Angelou

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/college-students-and-depression.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/seasonal-affective-disorder.