How Serious Are Those Mid-Winter Blues?

Look out the window right now. Do you see clear blue skies with a scant puffy cloud rolling by? Is the grass luscious and green and are the trees and bushes full of fresh blooms and shady leaves? Probably not. Unfortunately, we still have another month or two of dreary weather with chilly temperatures and overcast skies. In fact, do you notice yourself feeling tempted to play "hookie" so you can spend the day in your flannel pajamas under your cozy comforter? If so, you can probably understand your child's temptation to play sick on gloomy days. An occasional enticement is common; however, if your child seems excessively lethargic or depressed on regular intervals during the winter, he /she may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.).

According to Chisum Lee's article "Are you S.A.D.?" around 1% to 10% of adult females and young adults become so depressed due to less daylight that they cannot function. Could your teenager have S.A.D.? Consider some of the symptoms:

fatigue

excessive sleepiness

excessive eating of starchy or sugary foods

considerable weight gain

noticeable seasonal mood changes

Because S.A.D. is caused by a lack of sunlight, students are especially vulnerable. In the summer time they spend endless hours outdoors, and with daylight savings time, they have almost two more hours of daylight in the summer. Meanwhile, during this time of the school year, many teenagers may arrive at school before the sun has fully risen, and due to extra-curricular activities and homework, they may stay indoors until the sun has set.

While feeling slightly gloomy when the weather is dreary should not cause alarm, if it is so extreme that it affects your teenager's schoolwork and social activities, a doctor should be consulted. Some therapeutic treatments using fluorescent lighting and medicine are available. However, an easy and free method that can help milder cases is a daily walk. Enjoy the outdoors with your child as often as the weather will allow. Not only could this be an opportunity for the two of you to relax and beat those winter blues, it is also an excellent time to talk openly.

Remember, stay warm and dry, and enjoy the sun when you can. On a positive note, maybe the groundhog will bring good news this year!

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