Is it the winter time blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder that your child is suffering from this winter time? Seasonal Affective Disorder is not something that some therapist made up. Your child could be experiencing depression brought on by a lack of sunlight. During the winter months, the days are shorter and many of our children get up before the sun rises and get out of school shortly before the sun goes down. These changes in routine cause some chemical changes in all of our bodies that promote the blues and in some cases severe depression. Some symptoms to be watching for in your child are: depression, social withdrawal, lack of energy, excessive sleeping,anxiety, appetitie change (craving high carbs), and difficulty concentrating. If these syptoms last for a few days or more, you may want to try some of the treatment ideas listed below to counteract some of the symptoms of this disorder.
Light therapy is an effective treatment for this disorder. Light boxes can be purchased in many stores. It provides brighter lights than indoor lights and can simulate sunrise. Other home remedies include: eating foods with Tryptophan in them (turkey, milk, egg whites), engaging in regular aerobic exercise, getting outside at lunch time to soak in the sun, and opening the shades or curtains. If these things do not improve your child's mood, it may be time to see a professional because depression is not something to ignore. Therapy or antidepressants may be necessary for a time to help your child with this disorder.
They say that there are two sides to every coin, and S.A.D. is no exception to that rule. There is something called Reverse Seasonal Disorder that affects some individuals in the summertime and is related to obtaining to much sun. Symptoms include: persistant elevated mood, hyperactivity, agitation, and rapid speech. My recommendation for treating this disorder is to reverse the home remedies for S.A.D.
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