Helping our Children Deal With Seasonal Mood Changes

Helping our Children Deal With Seasonal Mood Changes
by Tracy Anglada

The days are getting shorter, the leaves are changing and the autumn air is crisp. For many of our kids this means fun in the form of hay rides, playing in a pile of leaves or roasting marshmallows over a bon fire.

But the changing season may also bring an unwanted visitor - depression!

My own son's initial descent into depression occurred in October. For many families autumn turns into a time of dread as they wait to see if the darkness will descend yet again.

If your child is one who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder or whose illness is made worse by seasonal changes you don't have to wait in dread. You can help your child deal with this aspect of their illness.

Be Aware- Know your child's cycles and mood patterns. This can be accomplished through regular charting and observation. Once you know the pattern, then you are in a better position to anticipate it and take measures to alter the pattern. By stepping back and looking at the larger picture of months and even years you may be surprised to find patterns toward mania or depression that may go unnoticed when you focus on daily mood changes.

Communicate- In addition to understanding your child's seasonal mood changes help your child understand this aspect of their illness also. By communicating with your child beforehand about this repeating pattern, your child may start becoming self aware and understand that there are interventions that can help avert a deep depression.

Be Proactive- If your child has consistently experienced a seasonal depression, don't wait until the same thing happens this year. Talk to your child's psychiatrist and see what steps you should take to avert the crisis before it hits in full force. Here are some possible solutions to help. As with any treatment be mindful of side effects and the possibility of switching to mania:

Light Therapy: Light therapy has proven itself to be very effective against seasonal depression. Work with your child's psychiatrist to determine the number of minutes that your child should spend in front of a light box. There are many varieties and price ranges to choose from.

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Complimentary treatments: Your child's psychiatrist may recommend a complimentary treatment such as omega 3's for worsening of symptoms due to seasonal changes.

Add on medication: It may be necessary for your child's medication dose to be raised or a temporary add on medication to be used to ward off seasonal depression.
Please join our discussion to share your experiences in helping your own child deal with seasonal mood changes.