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| Are you or your children SAD?
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| Seasonal affective disorder affects kids too
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If you've not heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder SAD before, then maybe you live in an area that's lovely and sunny all year round. SAD is a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern and appears and disappears at the same times each year and it can affect both adults and children.
It may sound like a bit of a first world illness, but in fact SAD is thought to affect around six per cent of all people, although females are four times more likely to be affected (as they are more likely to suffer from any sort of depression than men).
People with SAD usually get symptoms of depression as winter approaches and daylight hours become shorter, then as soon as spring returns and the days become longer again, they experience relief from the symptoms and a return to a "normal" mood and usual energy levels.
SAD is believed to be triggered by the brain's response to decreased daylight exposure, although the exact reasons for this aren’t fully understood. There are two chemicals believed to be involved:
- Melatonin, which is linked to sleep. It's produced in greater quantities when it's dark or when days are shorter. Increased production of melatonin can cause sleepiness and lethargy.
- Serotonin, the production of which increases with exposure to sunlight. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, so increasing the availability of serotonin helps to combat depression.
What to look out for in your child (or indeed in yourself, your partner and other family members)
Like other forms of depression, the symptoms of SAD have a wide range in terms of severity, affecting some people much more than others but at least with SAD you generally know when to look for signs and it is usually only occurs for a few months. The onset of SAD may well misinterpreted as boredom, apathy, tiredness, moodiness or hormones, but if your child ever shows these symptoms for more than a short time, it’s worth a. noting the time/date and season and b. talking to your GP.
Symptoms of SAD may include:
- Changes in mood: sadness, irritability, and/or feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness most of the time for at least 2 weeks; tendency to be more self-critical and more sensitive than usual to criticism; crying or getting upset more often or more easily
- Lack of enjoyment: loss of interest in things that are normally enjoyable
- Low energy: unusual tiredness or unexplained fatigue
- Changes in sleep: sleeping much more than usual (which can make it difficult for kids with SAD to get up and get ready for school in the morning)
- Changes in eating: craving simple carbohydrates (i.e., comfort foods and sugary foods); tendency to overeat (which could result in weight gain during the winter months)
- Difficulty concentrating: more trouble than usual completing assignments on time; lack of usual motivation (which can affect school performance and grades)
- Less time socializing: spending less time with friends in social or extracurricular activities
Generally speaking since SAD tends to go away when the light increases, it may enough to ensure maximum exposure to daylight, spending more time outdoors during daylight hours and even changing some lightbulbs in the home to full spectrum (daylight bulbs).
However when symptoms are more severe, treatment such as Light therapy (phototherapy), using a special lightbox or panel is placed on a tabletop, depression medication (antidepressants) and talk therapy (psychotherapy) in a similar way to other forms of depression.
SAD can be a serious condition in its own right but also an indicator of other proneness to other forms of depression so it should always be taken seriously and acted upon, firstly with a trip to the Doctors to evaluate whether your child has SAD. Symptoms such as tiredness, fatigue, changes in appetite and sleep, and low energy may not end up being due to SAD but may well indicate another underlying medical condition, such as hypothyroidism, hypoglycaemia, or mononucleosis.
Here are a few things you can do if your child has been diagnosed with SAD:
- Participate in your child's treatment. Ask the doctor how you can best help your child.
- Help your child understand SAD. Learn about the disorder and provide simple explanations. Remember, concentration might be difficult, so it's unlikely your child will want to read or study much about SAD - if so, just recap the main points.
- Encourage your child to get plenty of exercise and to spend time outdoors. Take a daily walk together.
- Find quality time. Spend a little extra time with your child — nothing special, just something low-key that doesn't require much energy. Bring home a movie you might enjoy or share a snack together. Your company and caring are important and provide personal contact and a sense of connection.
- Be patient. Don't expect symptoms to go away immediately. Remember that low motivation, low energy, and low mood are part of SAD — it's unlikely that your child will respond cheerfully to your efforts to help.
- Help with homework. You may have to temporarily provide hands-on assistance to help your child organize assignments or complete work. Explain that concentration problems are part of SAD and that things will get better again. Kids and teens with SAD may not realize this and worry that they're incapable of doing the schoolwork. You may also want to talk to the teachers and ask for extensions on assignments until things get better with treatment.
- Help your child to eat right. Encourage your child to avoid loading up on simple carbohydrates and sugary snacks. Provide plenty of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
- Establish a sleep routine. Encourage your child to stick to a regular bedtime every day to reap the mental health benefits of daytime light.
- Take it seriously. Don't put off evaluation if you suspect your child has SAD. If diagnosed, your child should learn about the seasonal pattern of the depression. Talk often about what's happening, and offer reassurance that things will get better, even if it may not seem like it at the time.
For more information, talk to your GP or look at websites such as Beyond Blue
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