It’s okay to be sad. A lot of us feel this way around this time of year. There’s not much sunlight and you may feel that cold gust of wind brush up against you, causing you to feel depressed. Here’s an example, while others are creating a masterful plan of bringing a snowman to life out in the cold, you might be saying bah humbug to the thought of it. No, you’re not a Scrooge. What you’re feeling could mean you’re experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D. Here’s the good news – YOU’RE NOT ALONE.

S.A.D. is a fairly common mood disorder linked to seasonal changes. The Mayo Clinic reports more than 3 million cases a year in the United States. While this time of year might be considered “the most wonderful time of the year,” for others they may feel lost, excluded from family and friends, and feel a mental brain fog causing them to be – well, sad.
“It impacts mood and daily functioning,” said Dr. Stephen Mandler. As the Chief Medical Officer at Orchard Place, Dr. Mandler has seen children that struggle with the mood disorder. “What makes it challenging is that it’s a recurring problem, lasting around 40 percent of the year.”
Signs and symptoms can vary between episodes of mania or hypomania, loss of interest, depression, oversleeping, increased appetite or loss of appetite, and suicidal thoughts. Often times, children are not always able to express they are feeling the symptoms listed above. Here’s the upside to this, mental health disorders are diagnosable and treatable!
Dr. Mandler said there’s various treatments being explored. “Bright-Light Therapy (BLT) is often considered the treatment of choice and has some proven effectiveness in 19 randomized clinical trials compared to a placebo, showing about 42 percent greater effectiveness over a placebo,” he explained. “Psychotherapy, especially Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is another potential treatment. While data is limited, a recent study found that CBT was as effective as BLT for the acute treatment of S.A.D.”
Orchard Place clinicians believe mood disorders in children and adolescents remains one of the most under-diagnosed mental health problems. While it is common to experience some S.A.D. symptoms on occasion, adolescents with mood disorders will experience these feelings more intensely and over a longer period of time, and feelings will start to interfere with things like relationships and school. Each symptom may resemble other conditions or problems. Always consult with a health care provider for a diagnosis.