utrgvtv 
EDINBURG – Spring is now rolling in, bringing with it sunny skies and longer days. But the spring season can also bring unexpected changes in mood and feelings.
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a condition most people associate with the winter season. As the National Institute of Mental Health states, SAD causes depressive behavior in adults of all ages and is typically caused by gloomy weather, less sunlight, and shorter days during the winter.
However, most people are unfamiliar with the condition’s opposite variant: Spring SAD. This form of SAD begins in the springtime and resolves by the end of the summer. But what is the cause of this?
One cause can be attributed to the more extreme climate for those living at latitudes closer to the equator, such as those in the Rio Grande Valley. Quetzaly Covarrubias, a sophomore majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at UTRGV, shared her thoughts on possible triggers of SAD in the Valley.
“In the winter, since our culture here in the Valley is, well, mainly Hispanics,” said Covarrubias, “we have a lot of fun. It’s where we’re with family, and we eat a lot… after all that eating and fun, so people want to get ready for the summer. So… they’re like, ‘oh man, I went really ham in the winter’. And they have more time to their selves, so, I think that could really contribute.”
For those who experience symptoms of SAD, the UTRGV Health Center provides free and confidential mental health counseling online and in-person for all students. They can be reached at counseling@utrgv.edu.
