Seasonal Affective Disorder

“I would look at how my child is functioning. Are they doing o-k in school, have their grades slipped. Are they not enjoying their hobbies or their interests. Have their sleep patterns changed.”

– Psychiatrist Patrice Harris, M.D., on signs a child might be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder

Grey skies, short days, not much sun.

Classmates Chauntae and Jasmine, both 16, say they notice how it can affect their mood.

“You know, just not in the mood to be talking to anybody and people kind of tell me I get a little bit mood swingy at times and I just might get mad about something really small,” says Jasmine.

“I definitely tend to isolate myself in my bedroom more. I’m always wanting to sleep and don’t want to be bothered,” adds Chauntae.

Experts say if during the winter, your child is sleeping more, eating more, having social or school problems… they may have seasonal affective disorder, or S.A.D.

“It can just appear out of the blue. And it really is a matter of what’s going on in the brain with some of neuro-chemicals,” says Psychiatrist Patrice Harris, M.D.

Light therapy, either using tanning bed like devices, or special high powered desk lamps, is a popular way to treat ‘sad’.

But a new study from the University of Vermont found that patients did six times better if light therapy was also combined with psycho-therapy, or ‘talk therapy’.

“I’m actually not surprised. Every day, more and more studies suggest that talk therapy works well, especially for milder forms of disorders,” says Dr. Harris, “and actually there’s some early research that shows that talk therapy does affect the chemicals in the brain.”

She says if parents suspect their child has S.A.D., they should take it seriously, and not just assume all they need is a little light.

“If a teen says you know, I don’t know what is going on, you know, I’m just feeling bad… and I don’t want to do anything and I don’t have any energy don’t have any motivation,” says Dr. Harris, “that’s when parents should say ‘well why don’t we go talk to someone about this who maybe knows a little bit more than we do’.”

Some people suffer from depression brought on by environmental circumstances, specifically during the winter months. This form of depression is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). According to experts at the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), you or your child may suffer from SAD if the following occur:

• Regularly occurring symptoms of depression (excessive eating and sleeping, weight gain, etc.) during the fall or winter months
• Full remission from depression in the spring and summer months
• Depression symptoms have occurred in the past two years, with no non-seasonal depression episodes.
• Seasonal episodes substantially outnumber non-seasonal depression episodes.
• A craving for sugary and/or starchy foods.

Everyone has or will experience feeling depressed at some point in their lives. Notable historical figures like Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Ludwig von Beethoven, Georgia O’Keefe and Mark Twain all suffered from the disease.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, between 80 and 90 percent of all cases of depression can be treated effectively. However according to the National Institute of Mental Health, two-thirds of those suffering from depression don’t get the help they need. Many fail to identify their symptoms or attribute them to lack of sleep or a poor diet. Others are just too fatigued or ashamed to seek help.

According to the NMHA, therapy for SAD will likely include phototherapy, which can slow the brain’s secretion of melatonin. If the case of depression is severe, however, medication or psychotherapy may be necessary. If you suspect your child is suffering from depression, experts at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggest that you consider the following:

• The most importa nt thing is to remain supportive.
• Do not blame the person for his or her depression.
• Do not be confrontational or try to get the individual to “snap out of it.”
• Voice your concerns for the person’s wellbeing.
• State that you want to and are willing to help.
• Open lines of communication. This can range from just listening to the person to seeking out help from a mental health professional.

In severe instances, depression can lead to thoughts of suicide. The National Association of School Psychologists suggests looking for the following warning signs that may indicate your depressed teen if contemplating suicide:

• Suicide notes – Notes or journal entries are a very real sign of danger and should be taken seriously.
• Threats – Threats may be direct statements (“I want to die” or “I am going to kill myself”) or, unfortunately, indirect comments (“The world would be better without me” or “Nobody will miss me anyway”). Among teens, indirect clues could be offered through joking or comments in school assignments, particularly creative writing or artwork.
• Previous attempts – If your child or teen has attempted suicide in the past, a greater likelihood that he or she will try again exists. Be very observant of any friends who have tried suicide before.
• Depression (helplessness/hopelessness) – When symptoms of depression include strong thoughts of helplessness and hopelessness, your teen is possibly at greater risk for suicide. Watch out for behaviors or comments that indicate your teen is feeling overwhelmed by sadness or pessimistic views of his or her future.
• “Masked” depression – Sometimes risk-taking behaviors can include acts of aggression, gunplay, and alcohol or substance abuse. While your teen does not act “depressed,” his or her behavior suggests that he or she is not concerned about his or her own safety.
• Final arrangements – This behavior may take many forms. In adolescents, it might be giving away prized possessions, such as jewelry, clothing, journals or pictures.
• Efforts to hurt himself or herself – Self-injury behaviors are warning signs for young children as well as teens. Common self-destructive behaviors include running into traffic, jumping from heights, and scratching, cutting or marking his or her body.
• Changes in physical habits and appearance – Changes include inability to sleep or sleeping all the time, sudden weight gain or loss, and disinterest in appearance or hygiene.
• Sudden changes in personality, friends or behaviors – Changes can include withdrawing from friends and family, skipping school or classes, loss of involvement in activities that were once important, and avoiding friends.
• Plan/method/access – A suicidal child or adolescent may show an increased interest in guns and other weapons, may seem to have increased access to guns, pills, etc., and/or may talk about or hint at a suicide plan. The greater the planning, the greater the potential for suicide.
• Death and suicidal themes – These themes might appear in classroom drawings, work samples, journals or homework.

If you suspect suicide, it is important to contact a medical professional immediately. A counselor or psychologist can also help offer additional support.

National Mental Health Association
American Psychiatric Association
National Institute of Mental Health
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
National Association of School Psychologists