Does Your Child Have the Winter Time Blues or Are They Really S.A.D.?

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.

Trouble Adjusting to the Time Change? Me, Too Says Your Child

Fall behind, Spring ahead. That means an extra hour of sleep for all of us this Sunday morning, yeah right. Someone should tell my internal clock. It will take most of us, chldren included, two weeks to adjust to the new time and lighting schedule. It is nice that it is light out when our children are going off to school, but it does seem to come home from work or activities in the dark. Understanding that you and your children will have some difficulty adjusting to this time change (yes even with an hour more sleep)will help. Consider taking it a little bit easier with regard to activities and bedtimes during this adujustment period.

For most of us, the time changes marks the beginning of wintery, dreary weather. Studies suggest that some individuals suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which is a form of depression that occurs in relation to the seasons, most commonly beginning in winter. This disorder may begin in adolescence or early adulthood. Like other forms of depression, it occurs more frequently in women than in men. Most people with the "winter blahs" or "cabin fever" do not have SAD, but some do.

The cause of SAD is not known, but it is thought to be related to ambien lighting, changes in body temperture and hormones associated with winter weather. Since many of us suffer from mild forms of the symptoms associated with this disorder in the winter time, don't automatically assume that you or your child is suffering from it. After seeing the list, I think that you will agree with this last statement. Symptoms include:
afternoon slump with decreased energy and concentration, carbohydrate cravings, decreased interest, depression that starts in fall or winter and ends in spring and summer, increased appetite with weight gain , lack of energy and social withdrawal. Treatment for this disorder can include antidepressant medication, but I really support trying talk therapy or light therapy with a special lamp to mimic light from the sun. Why rely on pills to treat something that could be effectively treated in both you and your child with talk and light.

If you find the winter weather is really getting you or your child down in the dumps in a major way consider consulting your doctor as there may have some help for you and your child. Don't just sit back and wait for what seems to be a never ending season to end, when there is help out there.