The mention of cold weather can bring up certain memories or feelings for different people– thoughts about the holidays, spending time with loved ones, a break from everyday life, etc. Alongside these happier memories, however, some people may dwell more on the negative feelings that they may experience during the winter season. Many people find themselves struggling more around this time of year; they might find it harder to keep up with tasks they previously found no difficulty in, or they might feel heavier and more worried. With all of this in mind, I sat down for an interview with Enloe’s school psychologist, Ms. Nyko, and her intern, Mr. Vander Krol, to discuss why these struggles may arise and how students can better cope with these uncomfortable feelings.
We discussed why students may feel these negative feelings to begin with; between the holiday season, the balance between school life and personal life, and the quick change in temperature and sunlight hours, it can be a stressful time for many. Mr. Vander Krol added that sometimes expectations are set for the season and students may feel let down when they’re not met. While this is not a complete list of all of the reasons students may not feel their best, it can offer a bit of direction and lead to coming up with coping strategies to manage this time a bit easier.
As our school psychologists, Ms. Nyko and Mr. Vander Krol are there to help students catch their feelings before they get too bad and can help to manage and regulate these emotions. “We don’t do therapy, I think that’s important for everybody to know. We’re just an avenue to listen and to help people come up with some strategies to regulate themselves.” Firstly, they recommended students work on their mindset to build up their self-confidence. This could look like noticing your negative thought patterns and catching them before a spiral starts, taking a moment to slow down, and trying to come up with at least one positive thought to counteract it. It may seem difficult at first, but the more practice you have with this technique the easier it becomes.
They also noted that due to the stress hormones released in the brain, people tend to seek out more physical contact–while you may not immediately want to socialize with others, physical contact with someone else could help you feel better in the long run. If you are comfortable, don’t feel ashamed to go to someone you trust just to talk about how you may be feeling, or to simply ask for a hug. Bottling up these feelings, whether physical or emotional, can lead to more stress and anxiety build-up. With this, however, Mr. Vander Krol noted that it is important not to take on someone else’s negative feelings and meditate over them, with Ms. Nyko mentioning her analogy, “Just put it in that trashcan before you leave.”
We are all social beings. It’s important to share the weight when things get too heavy to carry on our own; as Enloe students, there will always be students and staff willing to help you through whatever you are going through. This gets easier with practice, of course, but the more you are willing to be vulnerable and notice when you need help, the better you will be as not just a student but, as a person as well.
If you ever need to meet with Ms. Nyko or Mr. Vander Krol, you can set up a meeting through Calendy, with the link being available on Enloe’s Student Services website. Office hours are also available on Mondays and Thursdays all day, Wednesday mornings in the main office.
