It's that time of the year again. Everyone is either sick, depressed, or stressed. Sometimes even all three. The air hurts your face, your lips become painfully chapped, and everything you touch electrocutes you (like King Midas, but nowhere near as cool). I guess it looks pretty, but at what cost? Slipping on the ice and throwing your back out? Getting windburn? Having to waste gas to warm up your car? Turning your heat on and suddenly owing two times your regular rent? It's not for me. None of that sounds pleasant. I could go on and on, but here are just a few reasons why winter sucks, far more than any other season.

Seasonal depression is so real

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Personally, I do not have seasonal depression (I have constant depression, but I guess that's worse). I can't imagine going through a whole season where I just feel so down in the dumps and know it's gonna happen every year. The "winter blues" also known as season affective disorder (SAD, ironically enough) is a legitimate mental illness and can be treated. Symptoms begin at the end of the fall or the beginning of winter and continue until brighter, warmer days come again. So we really have a whole season to blame temporary mental illness on.

Dry skin is the bane of anyone's existence

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This is an actual representation of my skin in the wintertime. I'll be the first to admit my skin gets super dry in the colder months and it's painful, to say the least. My hands, my lips, my nose, my feet. I can't catch a break once and have a good skin day. No amount of lotion can help you in these treacherous times. May as well get used to lathering yourself in lotion and not being able to get through the day without your hands cracking.

The heat in your house makes it easier for germs to live.

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It would be ideal to jack up your heat as high as possible in the winter to get that cozy winter snuggle going on, but did you know that the flu virus and cold viruses thrive in warmer temperatures? Flu season is in full swing in December and dry, hot air, like what is so tempting to push through your house, is a haven for viruses like this. Also, get your flu shot, y'all.

Often people will gain a lot of weight during the winter.

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I know that I've heard a lot of jokes before about "fluffing up for the winter" you won't get as cold, but the real reason everyone gains weight in the winter is that more people are inclined to stay inside in the warmth during these months because of the cool temperatures. Seasonal depression and higher flu rates also come into play here.

The wind hurts.

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The wind hurts my face. Why would I want to be anywhere the wind hurts my face? Even a light breeze in the winter feels like Anemoi has a personal vendetta against you and wants to knock you off your feet and burn your skin at the same time. The wind can burn your skin so bad that once it starts healing from the wind, it can begin to peel. Just like a sunburn, and sometimes just as painful.

Snow is just awful.

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Unpopular opinion, I hate the snow more than any other weather. Give me ninety-degree weather, give me a thunderstorm, give me a dust storm, but for the love of everything, do not give me snow or ice. I've got classes to go to and things to get done. I don't want to deal with Satan's Slip n' Slide while I'm at it. Have you ever had snow get in your shoes? It's painful and makes me want to walk right back inside and chop my feet off. I don't want to hear it about snowboots, either. They're unfashionable and the biggest inconvenience to put on.

In conclusion, no one hates winter more than me. No one should like winter. I don't think Hell is hot. I truly believe Hell is the dead of winter, change my mind.