Since it is Winter, there are less hours of sunlight  in the day and most of the time it is gloomy outside. During this time, it is common for many people to  suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that occurs during the cold and darker months of the year, mainly fall and winter. This disorder makes people feel moody and it takes away their energy levels.

Here at Millersville you do not need to brush off that yearly feeling as simply as a case of the “winter blues”. This feeling is very common, so the Counseling Center offers relief to those experiencing this during the winter months. The Counseling Center , located in Lyle Hall,  have launched Light Box Therapy which has been available since October and will be available until March.

Light Box Therapy involves sitting down in front of light boxes. During this time , students can sit there and relax or they can complete their work while in front of the light. The light that is projected mimics sunlight which can lift your mood. The science behind it is that when you are in the presence of the light there is a chemical change in your brain and more levels of serotonin are produced. Serotonin is a brain chemical that affects your mood. 

Light Box Therapy sessions may be scheduled on Mondays through Fridays  from 8 am to 11:30 am. The Counseling Center has found the best results when students make an appointment in the morning. Completing a session in the morning helps to create better regulation of the body’s sleep cycles. So if you have 20-30 mins in the day , why not try out Light Box Therapy to increase your mood.

Information was provided by Erin Haggard, the Graduate Assistant at the Center for Counseling and Human Developemnt here at Millersville University.

To make an appointment or get more information you can go to the Counseling Center’s website or call them.

Cover photo courtesy of Canva.