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December is Seasonal Depression Awareness Month
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is depression that happens only at a certain time of year. With SAD, kids and teens tend to become depressed in fall or winter, when days are shorter and it gets dark earlier. Once the daylight hours grow longer again, symptoms go away.
As with other kinds of depression, SAD can lead to:
- Mood changes. Someone may feel sad or cranky, discouraged, or hopeless. They may also cry a lot or get upset easily.
- Negative thinking. Kids and teens may be harder on themselves or more sensitive to criticism. They may complain or blame others more often than usual. They may also think nothing will get better.
- Lack of enjoyment. People with SAD may not want to see friends or do activities that usually interest them.
- Low energy. Someone with SAD may be tired or lack energy. Things can seem like they take too much effort.
- Changes in sleep. Kids and teens may sleep a lot more and have trouble getting up for school.
- Changes in eating. Kids and teens may crave less healthy foods like chips or sugary snacks and overeat. This can lead to weight gain. Or they might not feel hungry and eat less.
- Trouble focusing. Like any depression, SAD can make it hard to focus, which can harm schoolwork and grades. Kids may also feel tense, restless, or fidgety.
- Suicidal thoughts. Someone with SAD may have thoughts of death, not wanting to live, or hurting themselves.
These symptoms tend to happen only during the time of year when there are fewer hours of daylight. The exact cause of SAD isn't clear, but some kids' and teens' brains react differently to fewer hours of daylight.
Daylight affects two chemicals in the brain: serotonin and melatonin. When it’s sunny, the brain makes more serotonin. High levels boost feelings of happiness and well-being. Low levels lead to depression. When it’s dark, the brain also makes more melatonin. High levels cause you to feel sleepy and have less energy.
Talk with your doctor if you think your child has SAD. If a child or teen is diagnosed with SAD, the doctor may recommend one or more of these treatments:
- More Light Exposure
- Light Therapy (Phototherapy)
- Talk Therapy
- Medication
If your child or teen is diagnosed with SAD, start by talking about it. Ask your doctor how you can be supportive. You also can:
- Encourage your child to get plenty of exercise, especially outdoors.
- Spend time together in ways that don't require much energy, like watching a movie.
- Be patient because it may take time for symptoms to improve.
- Have your child go to bed and get up at the same time each day to get the most daytime light.
If your child or teen has SAD, explain that it’s seasonal. So even though it could happen each year, there are things that help if it does.
For more information about seasonal affective disorder and your kids, visit here.
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