The snow crunches underneath your feet as you walk.  The glimmery, white perfection looks beautiful as it is interrupted with the deep lines from children’s sleds.

Perhaps school has been out for almost one week, and there are a mix of emotions for how that makes us feel.

On the one hand, it feels amazing to relax. Not only do we all get a chance to sleep in, but long snow break days give us the chance to catch up on our Netflix shows, spend time with family, and work on final projects.

However, being off from school for such a long time comes with its downfalls. We are not able to see friends and classmates, and the break can also leave us feeling bored with nothing to do.

All of these thoughts and feelings are symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD. The SAD nickname means exactly that: to feel depressed in certain months.

Most people experience SAD in the fall or winter months, but it is possible for some to experience SAD in the spring and summer.

However, no matter when someone is feeling down, the symptoms are the same. This includes feeling down most of the day, extreme tiredness, and changes in appetite.

SAD only lasts for those few months, though, making it different from regular depression.

According to a Boston University report, 10 million Americans have this seasonal depression, with it being found more commonly in women.

Although telling someone you are experiencing these things is extremely vulnerable, it is not a bad thing to open up.

Being vulnerable with friends, family members, or even a doctor can allow us humans to work through our emotions better. This not only benefits us during these melancholy months, but we will be able to use that power when we are experiencing other forms of emotional ranges.

When we embrace who we are as a person, we learn just how courageous and brave we are.

I know that you are probably reading this and thinking, “Well that’s easier said than done.”

But, I would beg to differ.

I have found myself experiencing SAD during the winter months which always confused me because winter is my favorite season.  However, we sometimes cannot control just how our emotions and brain function as one.

Maybe it is the sun going down at five p.m. instead of at almost eight during the summer. Perhaps the cold is just a way to reflect on life, and these feelings are actually good for us.

I learned that reaching out to close friends is truly the best way to overcome these obstacles. Having conversations over an iced coffee or on FaceTime is a great way for relationships to grow on a deeper level.

However, if someone is not ready to take that step, it is okay. That does not mean that person is not trying or is a failure.

Everyone needs to know that they are loved by so many people and there are always friendly faces in the halls for them.

So, look at the snow. Revel in its true beauty. No two snowflakes are the same, and people are just as wonderfully unique. Do not be afraid to be vulnerable in these freezing days.