December is Seasonal Affective Disorder Awareness Month

Here’s how you can help adolescents fighting seasonal depression

As the days grow shorter and the weather turns colder, many adolescents find themselves feeling a bit more down than usual. This seasonal shift can trigger a much deeper struggle known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD can interfere with everyday life and impact overall well-being. But there’s hope—starting with spotting the symptoms and seeking adolescent behavioral health treatment.

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

SAD is more than a fleeting case of the blues. Symptoms may include:

• Persistent feelings of hopelessness
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Difficulty concentrating
• Disinterest in activities
• Increased irritability
• Fatigue and oversleeping
• Low energy

Having one or two of these symptoms might not be a cause for concern. But if symptoms manifest during the winter and linger, it could be seasonal depression.

How to Help Someone with SAD

If you or a loved one experiences Seasonal Affective Disorder, there are treatments to help you start enjoying life again. You can’t change the seasons, but you can change how you feel during these colder months.

Here are some ways that may help ease SAD symptoms:

• Increase your exposure to natural light to improve mood and energy levels.
• Exercise to naturally increase serotonin levels.
• Don’t isolate yourself. Being around people you care about can improve mental health.

It’s okay to seek professional treatment, too, including individual, group, and family therapies. From nutritional counseling to music therapy and chemical dependency education, working with an adolescent behavioral therapist in Richmond, VA at Hallmark Youthcare now can help combat depression and create healthy habits for the future.

Find an adolescent behavioral therapist near me and help my teen overcome Seasonal Affective Disorder.

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