Happy Lights
Winter Blues
Many students feel the effects of the South Bend "perma-cloud" as the days get shorter and sunshine is harder to come by. Otherwise known as the Winter Blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder, it is not an uncommon experience and can impact mental health and well-being.
With the change of seasons, students might recognize some of the following symptoms impacting their mental well-being:
- Feeling “down” or irritable
- Experiencing sleep problems
- Having lower energy
- Noticing fluctuations in appetite and/or weight
- Feeling unmotivated / wanting to “hibernate”
Happy Lights
There is a proven connection between the amount of sunlight we receive and our mental well-being. In the early 1980s, researchers discovered the innate relationship between light and seasonal depression (National Institute of Health). “Happy Lights” are designed to emit light into the retina, thus activating the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that helps with our circadian rhythm. When our circadian rhythm is stabilized, it can help keep our seasonal symptoms in balance and reduce feeling the “Winter Blues” (Harvard Health).
Sunshine On Loan
Notre Dame students are eligible to check out a light from the McDonald Center, the Family Resource Center, or Graduate Student Life Office to take home for a two week period. Happy Lights are also available in undergraduate residence halls, or during a visit to one of the McDonald Center's Restorative Spaces.