Seasonal Affective Disorder Affects Children Too (and How to Tell If Your Child Has a Problem)
The arrival of winter, the darkest of the seasons, often brings with it heightened feelings of sadness, stress and anxiety. And this winter will certainly give parents and children many reasons for stress, sadness and anxiety – this is our second meeting in the cloud of an uncontrollable pandemic, school routines are again interrupted by fights over masks. classroom quarantines, and a vaccine for young people is just a glimpse of the horizon.
While a certain amount of stress and anxiety is to be expected, it is especially important for parents to keep a close eye on the mental health of our children at this time of year. Some of their mood changes are common during this time of year, but if they are especially severe, they can be a sign of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a type of depression associated with the changing seasons . Although commonly referred to as an adult problem, children can also feel the effects of SAD, which means you must be proactive to get the help they need.
Most people with SAD begin to feel the effects in the fall and continue to fight them throughout the winter, with symptoms getting worse over time. Then, when the seasons begin to change again, SAD often begins to fade on its own, but it takes a long time to feel mercilessly sad, especially for a child.
How do you know if you are dealing with SAD or just plain sadness? “The biggest difference is in the duration of symptoms and the time of year, as seasonal affective disorder is associated with the environment,” said Alison LaSov, licensed family therapist and CEO of Advekit .
How to recognize signs of SAD in children
While we usually think that SAD is limited to adults, children can get it too. For a formal diagnosis of SAD, as opposed to general depression, symptoms must be present for at least two years, maintaining a predictable seasonal cycle.
In addition to being seasonal, symptoms of SAD include:
- Feelings of sadness or irritability, even if there is no clear reason.
- Appetite changes, whether that means you are eating more or less than usual.
- Sleep changes, whether it’s too much or too little sleep
- Refusal from social activities
- Loss of interest in previous activities
- Self-criticism
These symptoms are similar to those seen in adults, with the main difference being that while many adults have learned to recognize and manage depression, many children still don’t know and may not know what might be the cause of how they feel. feeling. “Children can get upset about having these feelings,” LaSov said, which can also extend to feelings of guilt or shame for their emotions.
In many cases, parents are the first to notice signs of depression; children may not be able to articulate their own emotional experiences and may not even be aware that something is wrong. As LaSov notes, this is why it is important for parents to conduct regular emotional checks on their children in order to monitor their condition and ask if they need help.
These checks should include multiple questions, listening without judgment, and not dismissing the child’s concerns as trivial. “Show curiosity and don’t lose support,” Lasov said. “This is a really tough time for everyone.”
Treatment includes conversation, light therapy, and medication.
Treatments for SAD in children are similar to those for other forms of depression. These can include conversation, which can be especially helpful for children as they are still working to learn to recognize and deal with their emotions. If the symptoms are severe enough, your doctor may also recommend medications.
The main difference between treating SAD and other types of depression, according to LaSov, is that practitioners may also recommend light therapy , for which you’ll get a lightbox that simulates a street light. Daily exposure to light therapy can help relieve some of the symptoms of SAD in both children and adults. Your child’s doctor will likely recommend a specific brand and the best time and duration for light therapy.
Above all, parents need to be proactive about giving their children the help they need, which also includes teaching your child any diagnosis or treatment they may receive. “The diagnosis can be frightening,” said Lasov. Talk to them and you will survive the winter together.