Calabasas, CA – This time of year, “the winter blues” rear their ugly head. That’s exactly what local teen mental health provider, BNI Treatment Centers, focused on in their recent blog. The so-called winter blues could actually be seasonal affective disorder (SAD), according to the blog – and teens can be impacted too.
The article explains that SAD, also referred to as “seasonal depression,” correlates with the changing of seasons. While winter SAD is most common, spring and summer SAD also exist. “Typically, people with this condition will feel depressed during the fall and winter, with symptoms subsiding in the spring and summer. People assigned female at birth are more likely to have SAD, as well as other forms of depression. Studies currently suggest this is due to a combination of hormonal and societal circumstances that are unique to them,” the blog details.
According to the blog, the major contributing factor to SAD is lessening sunlight. People in sunnier places are less likely to develop SAD. The article uses a statistic as an example, too: “Over 18% of participants in a study in Alaska met the criteria for winter-pattern SAD. In comparison, the estimated average prevalence of SAD in the United States is 5%.” The article shares that sunlight is linked to vitamin D, which impacts depression, and it helps regulate neurotransmitters that influence the condition, too. It also mentions a potential overproduction of melatonin in darkness, which can contribute to fatigue.
“Seasonal affective disorder usually manifests in adolescence or young adulthood. The chance of developing SAD decreases with age. Recognizing SAD in teens can lead to early intervention, which will empower adolescents with SAD to live healthy lives as adults,” the blog points out. It then reminds readers that teens often go to school when it’s dark out, and spend much of their time indoors at school or working on homework. “This combination can contribute to the development of seasonal affective disorder in teens. This condition can negatively impact teens’ grades, relationships, and more,” it says.
BNI Treatment Centers then spotlights the symptoms of SAD, noting that they’re the same as traditional depression, just in a particular season. Some symptoms are frequent sadness, anxiety, lethargy, trouble focusing, irritability, feeling heavy, loss of interest in activities, oversleeping, and suicidal thoughts or actions. Summer-pattern SAD also comes with additional symptoms: restlessness, less of an appetite, weight loss, aggression, and insomnia.
When it comes to helping teens with SAD, the blog stresses the importance of taking them to a mental health professional. Aside from that, it recommends getting as much natural sunlight as possible, exercising – especially outdoors, eating healthy, remaining social, journaling, meditating, and remembering that SAD symptoms are temporary.
“If your child is living with seasonal depression, we encourage you to seek teen mental health treatment for them. Therapy is beneficial for anyone, even if they do not receive an official diagnosis of seasonal affective disorder. A therapist can guide your teen with strategies to manage the concerns interfering with their life,” the article closes
BNI Treatment Centers offers mental health care for teens ages 13-17. Their facilities are owned and operated by expert clinicians, including psychiatrists who are intimately involved in the formulation and execution of clients’ treatment plans. They can prescribe medication when needed, and quickly alter the course of treatment if necessary to promote the best possible outcomes for teens. For more information, visit their website, or call (888) 522-1504.
“BNI Treatment Centers: Science-based, evidence-backed, compassion-led.”
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For more information about BNI Treatment Centers - Stokes, contact the company here:
BNI Treatment Centers - Stokes
Doug Jewell
424-365-1032
doug@bnitreatment.com
2563 Stokes Canyon Rd
Calabasas
CA
91302
