Winter depression

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Do others find that their AS children get worse in the winter months? I am noticing something of a pattern over the last couple of years where we have more ongoing periods of meltdowns in the autumn/winter months. Any clues why?

I have heard that there is a depression specific to winter, related to lack of sun etc. Does anyone else know about this, and particularly I'm interested in whether there are any tests for it, or whether you just know you have it cos winter makes you feel that way?

Are you talking about S.A.D.? or Seasonal Affective Disorder?


Mayo Clinic LINK

Hmmm link didn't work... here's the address...

http://mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-a ... er/DS00195

Last edited by wsmac on 24 May 2008, 10:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Yeah, that's the one.

I don't know if there is a link or not...I have mixed feelings about winter. In some ways I find it easier because a lot of people become reclues in winter, so I don't "feel" as weird . I do think there maybe a link to low levels of Vit D because of lack of sun (also seen more in people in colder climates in general), so there does seem to be a sun link but I think a Vit D suppliment might be helpful try.

My sons actually do the worst in the spring and late fall. That's when their allergies are the worst, and feeling ill/side effects from all the meds exacerbates all the behavioural stuff. They are at their best in the winter, when they feel well.

I'm the opposite; I suspect I have summer SAD.

My son also has it worse in the spring due to allergies and during long holiday periods if we don't have enough scheduled. Right now I'm planning on scheduling stuff in during the week so he doesn't go stir-crazy in the house.
Winter has the Christmas holiday which is unstructured time + anxiety over gifts/holiday celebration. He gets absolutely insane on 4th of July.

me too. I hae a slightly higher body temperature than normal and need moisture in the air to "breathe" so i stay indoors all summer long. In the fall and winter I'm outside for hours each day

Thanks everyone. That has helped me to work it through a bit.

FYI If you think it's SAD you need to keep a mood & season diary to get a diagnosis. Recurrent patterns of low mood that follow the patterns of the levels of daylight and seasons need to be demonstrated over 2-3 years for it to be SAD. IF it's not that it doesn't mean to say it's not a problem, only that it's probably something other than SAD

I get extremely depressed (i.e. hard to get out of bed, wonder why I go on, etc.) during the winter. The longer the cold weather hangs on, the worse it is. I'm an aspie.