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Teachable Moments
Know!
Beyond the Holiday Blues
‘Tis the season to be jolly; It’s the most wonderful time of the year;
It’s the happiest season of all. That’s what we hear. But what if your
student isn’t feeling jolly, wonderful, or even the slightest bit
happy? He or she may be experiencing the holiday blues. Unfortunately,
just like moms, dads, teachers, and other adults, young people are not
immune from feeling sad, lonely, anxious, and depressed during the
holiday season.
There are countless reasons why students may feel especially down
during the holidays, including:
Their parents are divorced or are getting divorced.
A parent or close family member is looking at a military deployment.
A grandparent or other loved one has been lost.
They’ve experienced a breakup recently.
They’ve had a falling out with a close friend.
Instead of joyful, they may be feeling lonely and isolated and find
themselves longing for the happy holidays they used to have. Social
media can support those negative feelings, especially when their peers
appear to be having the time of their lives, smiling with friends and
family at parties and gatherings, or possibly showing off the gifts
they’ve received. And because not all children receive the type of
gifts bestowed upon their peers, that too can cause young people to
feel like they are missing out. For some teens, feeling down may be
about needing more sunshine than what their area of the world provides
them. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a common type of depression
that hits hardest during the fall and winter months, and it’s known to
zap your energy and make you feel depressed.
While we can’t necessarily make everything merry for our students,
there are some things we can do to help during the holidays:
Encourage them to step out into the sunshine at least 20 minutes each
day. Even if they have to bundle up, they should experience a lift in
mood and spirit.
Let them know it is OK to feel what they’re feeling, even if they don’t
feel like celebrating. Remind them that the holiday season will soon
pass, and that things will get better and brighter.
If old traditions bring up painful memories for your child, suggest
they create new ones. There are no rules as to how to spend the
holidays. Encourage families to talk about it with their children and
see what you can come up with together.
Encourage them to GIVE. It need not involve their wallet or yours. It
is uplifting and feels good to give to others, and there are so many
opportunities, especially during the holidays. They can volunteer at a
soup kitchen, wrap gifts for a busy mom, spend time talking to an
elderly neighbor, or visit a nursing home. Forget the extravagant
presents, the gift of giving oneself to others is the true meaning and
reason of the holiday season.
Help them count their blessings. Remind them of all the positives in
their life and talk about the importance of moving and focusing forward.
Say the holidays come and go, yet your student still appears to be
down. The question then becomes, is it more than SAD? Is it depression?
More than 1 in 7 teens experience depression each year, and studies
show that high number is on the rise. By definition, a major depressive
episode lasts for at least two weeks and is defined by depressed mood,
loss of interest or pleasure, and problems with sleeping, eating,
concentration, energy, and self-image.
According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
(AACAP), common symptoms of depression in children and adolescents
include:
Feeling or appearing depressed, sad, tearful, or irritable.
Not enjoying things as much as they used to.
Spending less time with friends or in after school activities.
Changes in appetite and/or weight.
Sleeping more or less than usual.
Feeling tired or having less energy.
Feeling like everything is their fault or that they are not good at
anything.
Having more trouble concentrating.
Caring less about school or not doing as well in school.
Having thoughts of suicide or wanting to die.
Frequent headaches or stomach aches.
Depressed adolescents may use alcohol or other drugs as a way of trying
to feel better.
Depression not only takes a toll on a young person’s life, but it can
lead a child to think about or plan for suicide, which is currently the
leading form of death for youth ages 10-24.
Experts say that if you suspect a teen may be depressed, try asking him
or her how they are feeling and if anything is bothering them. When
asked directly, some young people are surprisingly forthcoming with
their answer. Any indication of deep sadness or self-harm should be
taken seriously and help should be sought out immediately. According to
the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), even short-term
problems should be taken seriously, because they too can cause
long-term mental health conditions.
If you or someone you know needs professional help, contact your
child’s pediatrician, school counselor, or a qualified mental health
professional, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at
1-800-273-8255 or visit online at SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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