Even in a sunny state like Nevada, teens can experience seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Cooler temperatures, later sunrises, and earlier sunsets can cause subtle changes in brain chemicals that affect mood, sleep, and overall energy levels.
In fact, teens can be particularly vulnerable to these effects thanks to puberty-related fluctuations in hormones and ongoing brain development. Juggling the pressures of school, family relationships, and peer interactions can make seasonal-related changes even more intense, significantly affecting your teen’s overall quality of life.
As a leading pediatrics practice, Nevada Pediatric Specialists doesn’t just focus on the physical aspects of teen health — we treat emotional issues, too, including SAD. In this post, our team helps you identify five subtle signs of SAD so you can help your teen find the treatment they need to feel better fast.
As a parent (and former teen yourself), you might think being moody is just part of being a teen. But for kids with SAD, moodiness, irritability, and tearful outbursts become a lot more common and more intense this time of year.
That’s because, like major depressive disorder, SAD involves lower levels of neurotransmitters, brain chemicals responsible for mood regulation and emotional stability. SAD happens when low light levels during the winter months cause the brain to produce far fewer of these chemicals, resulting in unusual moodiness and other symptoms. When springtime returns, emotional outbursts taper off in kids with seasonal depression.
Teens need more sleep than adults to support growth and development, and it’s not uncommon for them to spend days off sleeping late or even napping on occasion. If your teen suddenly seems to be spending more time sleeping, though, it could be a sign of SAD or another type of depression.
Dwindling daylight can also throw their biological clock off balance, making it more difficult to fall asleep at night and to wake up in the morning. This extra fatigue affects attention span, motivation, and daily energy, taking a toll on schoolwork and making your teen less social and more withdrawn.
Poor sleep isn’t the only way SAD can affect your child’s ability to pay attention. Changes in neurotransmitter levels can affect concentration and cognitive function, too, making it harder for your teen to focus and stay on task.
If your child has SAD, you may find they suddenly fail to complete homework or other school assignments or exhibit frustration with other tasks that once came easily to them. Your child’s teachers may report daydreaming, forgetfulness, or other changes that are unusual for your teen.
Low levels of neurotransmitters can affect your child's appetite and eating habits. Some teens begin craving high-carb foods that temporarily boost serotonin levels. These cravings often show up in the late afternoon or evening when natural light is lowest, leading to weight gain over time.
Other teens experience the opposite pattern and begin eating less. They may lose interest in food or skip meals because nothing seems appealing. When your child eats less, poor nutrition can contribute to fatigue, irritability, and poor concentration, worsening the emotional impact of seasonal depression.
It can sometimes seem as though socializing is the most important thing to your teen. But in kids with SAD, the normal level of socializing starts to decline, sometimes rapidly.
Your child may opt to stay home more instead of hanging out with their friends, and they may spend more and more time alone in their rooms. They may suddenly show little or no interest in activities they once loved.
SAD is a subtype of depression, and although symptoms tend to improve when the weather warms up, that doesn't make your child’s experience any easier for them to bear. Fortunately, there are treatments that can help.
If you think your child has seasonal depression, don’t delay seeking treatment. To learn how we can help, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Nevada Pediatric Specialists in Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada, today.
