Seasonal Affective Disorder and Autism?

Laura – it’s hard to tell how everything is related much of the time. We generally try to keep notes about all these possible connections and symptoms and whatnot (or as many as we can) and then as systematically as our tired brains can muster pursue and research the various threads until we see if there’s much to them or not.

The hard part is that autism often comes with an ‘and’, where kids have autism and something else (or multiple something elses) going on. So it could be autism and SAD (like it might be for us with autism and apraxia and sensory disorders and who knows what else).

With SAD, one of the main techniques to address it is a light box (got mine from Sunbox) for so many minutes a day. One problem there – these lights can potentially trigger manic episodes in people with bipolar disorder. So it could perhaps cause negative behavioral changes in a person with autism too if it ‘excites’ their brains in some way. Who knows. I’m really just theorizing (at best) here.

So to make my long ramble shorter, the question becomes, OK let’s say there is some potential relationship there between autism and SAD. What do we actually do about it? I doubt there’s any clear answer yet. I’d be interested to see what you find out.

I know a LOT of autistic kids on melatonin. We haven’t had to as we’ve thankfully gotten J-Man’s sleep seemingly figured out now. (Hope I didn’t just jinx it.) I know several parents who’ve also incorporated other medications in to help with sleep, particularly in situations where the lack of sleep feeds a vicious cycle of wild behaviors which begets even less sleep and so on.

It’s great that you’re making these observations about the weather and his behavioral changes. If as parents we can spot the variables that affect our kids’ behaviors the most – whether it’s weather, the position of the furniture, doing something in the ‘wrong’ order, the price of tea in Ceylon, etc. – then we can take steps to address them. There are just so many variables – and often it’s the smallest thing that does it – that it’s a huge challenge to isolate the culprits and then actually figure out what to do about it.

Again, if you’d like to share what you find out, would love to hear about it.

Katherine – it’s quite possible there is a SAD component to his behavior, though I’m obviously not the best person to ask. A huge percentage of humanity experiences some level of effects from the number of hours of sun during the day. The increases in levels of depression and suicide in very northern latitudes where days are very short or non-existent in the winter are well-documented. I think it’s just a biological need programmed into us.

One interesting effect of that light therapy box I use in the winter is that if you use it for too long in one sitting, you can get much more hyper or irritable. I know for people with bipolar disorder that they have to be carefully monitored at first when using light therapy for SAD as too much light can sometimes trigger a hypomanic or manic episode. It’s pretty much like trying to adjust a very sensitive thermostat, and it’s not hard to overcompensate.

I know little about the effects of light therapy on kids with SAD, though I imagine their sensitivity to both the therapies and the effects of SAD in the first place might be more prone to swings than many adults. I could be completely talking out of my ear, too.

I’m not sure what type of specialist would be the most useful to talk to about this. I know there are psychologists who specialize in SAD, but you’re right in that more research seems to exist about adults. I’d be inclined to ask around for a neurologist who might have some ideas too.

I’m often in a state somewhere between contentment and bliss during spring and fall. I’m pretty lethargic in winter – though not as much as I used to be. I’m just grumpy in summer because it’s so dang hot! I’m a clear poster child for seasonal mood changes.

I’m interested to hear what you find out. Let us know!