Posts Tagged ‘Children’
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
Talk to your doctor if you suspect your child has SAD. Doctors and mental health professionals make a diagnosis of SAD after a careful evaluation and a checkup to ensure that symptoms aren’t due to a medical condition that needs treatment. Tiredness, fatigue, changes in appetite and sleep, and low energy can be signs of other medical problems, such as hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, or mononucleosis.
When symptoms of SAD first develop, it’s not uncommon for parents to attribute low motivation, energy, and interest to an intentional poor attitude. Learning about SAD can help them understand another possible reason for the changes, easing feelings of blame or impatience with their child or teen.
Parents sometimes are unsure about how to discuss their concerns and observations. The best approach is usually one that’s supportive and nonjudgmental. Try opening the discussion saying something like, “You haven’t seemed yourself lately — you’ve been so sad and grouchy and tired, and you don’t seem to be having much fun. It seems like you’ve been feeling kind of worn out and exhausted — like you just can’t get enough sleep. So, I’ve made an appointment for you to get a checkup. I want to help you to feel better and get back to doing your best and enjoying yourself again.”
Here are a few things you can do if your child or teen has been diagnosed with SAD:
- Participate in your child’s treatment. Ask the doctor how you can best help your child.
- Help your child understand SAD. Learn about the disorder and provide simple explanations. Remember, concentration might be difficult, so it’s unlikely your child will want to read or study much about SAD — if so, just recap the main points.
- Encourage your child to get plenty of exercise and to spend time outdoors. Take a daily walk together.
- Find quality time. Spend a little extra time with your child — nothing special, just something low-key that doesn’t require much energy. Bring home a movie you might enjoy or share a snack together. Your company and caring are important and provide personal contact and a sense of connection.
- Be patient. Don’t expect symptoms to go away immediately. Remember that low motivation, low energy, and low mood are part of SAD — it’s unlikely that your child will respond cheerfully to your efforts to help.
- Help with homework. You may have to temporarily provide hands-on assistance to help your child organize assignments or complete work. Explain that concentration problems are part of SAD and that things will get better again. Kids and teens with SAD may not realize this and worry that they’re incapable of doing the schoolwork. You may also want to talk to the teachers and ask for extensions on assignments until things get better with treatment.
- Help your child to eat right. Encourage your child to avoid loading up on simple carbohydrates and sugary snacks. Provide plenty of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
- Establish a sleep routine. Encourage your child to stick to a regular bedtime every day to reap the mental health benefits of daytime light.
- Take it seriously. Don’t put off evaluation if you suspect your child has SAD. If diagnosed, your child should learn about the seasonal pattern of the depression. Talk often about what’s happening, and offer reassurance that things will get better, even though that may seem impossible right now.
Tags: Children, Depression, Exercise, Healthy, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression, Sleep Routine, Support, Treatment
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Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010
Tags: Bipolar Disorder, Children, Depression, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression, Summer SAD, Support, Teens
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Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Many people that suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder have been told to begin using a light box to help them recover from their winter depression. Although many have problems with just sitting in front of their light box, that some shy away from treatment.
You can turn your light box on and sit in front of it everyday from 30 minutes to 2 hours. You do not have to stare directly at the light box while you are sitting in front of it. Actually, you shouldn’t, it can be harmful if you have macular degeneration. However, you should still sit directly in front of it. Most doctors recommend using a light therapy box in the morning because that is when it is the most effective. Therefore, it will be helpful if you use it while you are completely morning tasks. Use your light therapy box while you are eating breakfast, reading the newspaper, working on your computer, playing an instrument, watching the television, putting on your makeup or reading a book.
Light therapy may sound expensive; however you can actually purchase a light box and perform regular light therapy treatments at home. With the North Star 10,000 you only need to be within in 24 inches from it to be effective, it gives you plenty of room to multi task while you get your treatment.
Tags: Children, Depression, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression
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Thursday, May 13th, 2010
Seasonal Affective Disorder in children is a lot less common than in adults. But that is because symptoms are milder and someone what hidden than symptoms in adults. Research suggests that around 1 million school-age children and teens in the U.S. suffer from SAD. SAD seems to get worse as people age, but may appear at any stage in a person’s life.
Symptoms in children occur when they are in school, which can be a stressful time anyway. Parents may mistake symptoms for just problems in school. It can take years before a child is diagnosed because parents and children don’t recognize the seasonal patterns. It’s important to keep an eye for warning symptoms that your child is suffering from seasonal affective disorder.
Symptoms include: tiredness or loss of energy, crankiness or irritability – crying in spells, problems in school – including difficulty concentrating and doing schoolwork, oversleeping – including difficulty waking up in the morning, and over eating – especially carbohydrate cravings.
Parents of children and teens with SAD should participate in their treatment. Learn about the disorder and share it with your child. They may need help with homework, so make time to help them. Make sure the child’s teachers know of your child’s situation. The important thing is to make sure your child is getting the help that they need to feel better.
Light therapy is drug-free treatment for SAD, so it is safe for older children. Children can sit in front of a light therapy box while eating breakfast, doing homework, watching TV, reading a book or may other options. If you think that your child might be suffering from seasonal affective disorder, it’s important that you contact your child’s physician immediately to discuss diagnosis and treatment.
Tags: Children, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Teens
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