Advantage EAP Emplyee Assistance Prgram July 2014 In This Issue What might we face? Symptms f SAD Seasnal changes in biplar disrder Tips fr cmbating summer truble When t seek help Tips fr helping thse affected Where t turn fr help Final Thughts References Mental Health and the Summer The blues dn t just cme in the winter What might we face? 1, 2 Mst f think f the summer as a great time, especially yung peple and thse ff fr wrk fr the summer, such as sme teachers. Hwever, mental illness cannt be frgtten during peak vacatin seasn. Just because it s sunny utside, desn t mean we will be sunny inside. Seasnal Affective Disrder (SAD) is a type f depressin ccurring at the same time every year. SAD is typically knwn fr symptms beginning in the fall, lasting thrugh the winter. Hwever, sme peple experience SAD in the Spring and Summer. If yu are a persn affected by SAD, yu knw yu feel like yu have n energy and yu may be quite mdy. Despite when a persn experiences SAD, symptms may begin mild and increase as the seasn prgresses. In additin, mental health is impacted by the change in ur schedules, which fr many means a lack f structure. This lack f structure can cause prblems fr peple affected by Attentin Deficit Hyperactivity Disrder (ADHD), especially children. Even peple nt affected by ADHD symptms can experience changes in their md, thrugh the experience f anxiety and irritability due t changes in their daily structure. These changes in md can lead t a persn experiencing depressin. Even adults wh have t wrk in the summer-time, wh really enjy being utside but are unable t, can experience symptms f depressin and anxiety. Additinally, children diagnsed with ADHD may be increasingly vulnerable t mental health difficulties, because healthcare prviders and guardians chse t discntinue stimulant medicatins during breaks frm schl. And, thse diagnsed with biplar disrder may be affected by the spring and summer as evidenced by experiencing mre manic symptms. Furthermre, thse dealing with cmpulsins, addictins, and agraphbia may als see an increase in symptms during the summer.
Symptms f SAD? 2 In the winter Depressin Hpelessness Anxiety Lss f energy Heavy, leaden feeling in the arms r legs Scial Withdrawal Oversleeping Lss f interest in activities yu nce enjyed Appetite changes, especially a craving fr fds high in carbhydrates Weight gain Difficulty cncentrating In the Spring and Summer Anxiety Truble sleeping (Insmnia) Cntact Us Hurs: Mnday-Friday, 8:30am- 5:00pm. Evening hurs are available. (540) 772-5140 r scheduling@psychhealthr anke.cm Nights and Weekends call RESPOND: (540) 776-1100 r 800-541-9992 Advantage EAP des nt necessarily endrse any prducts r services mentined. Irritability Agitatin Weight lss Pr appetite Increased sex drive Seasnal changes in biplar disrder: 2 Persistently elevated md Hyperactivity Agitatin
Unmanageable enthusiasm ut f prprtin t the situatin Rapid thughts and speech Tips fr cmbating summer truble: 1 Make a plan at the beginning f the seasn, befre symptms get bad. Keep pen cmmunicatin with yur family and friends abut hw yu re feeling and any supprt yu may need. Parents, make sure yu are penly taking with yur children abut hw they are feeling and any changes they may be experiencing. Get utside, even if yu dn t feel like it. Limit the amunt f time yu spend nline, watching televisin, and playing vide games. Pay clse attentin t making sure yu re eating right. Make sure yu are getting enugh sleep. Stay physically active. If yu r yur children are taking prescriptin medicatins, make sure yu/ they are taking them cnsistently. Remember, d nt every stp taking medicatin withut talking t yur dctr. This can lead t a wrsening f mental health symptms, and pssibly physical withdrawal symptms. When t seek help: 2 When symptms get wrse fr days at a time. When symptms put yu r thers in immediate danger f harm. When yu stp ding things yu typically enjy ding. When yur daily activities and respnsibilities are neglected fr an extended perid f time. Where t turn fr help: Yur r yur child s primary care physician. Yu r yur child s Psychiatrist, if ne is currently wrking with yu r yur child. A mental health prfessinal, such as a clinical psychlgist, clinical scial wrker, r prfessinal cunselr. If symptms are putting yu r thers at imminent risk f harm, yu can seek help frm a crisis prgram thrugh yur lcal hspital r cmmunity services bard. If needed, yu can call 911 r g t yur nearest emergency rm.
Adapting t schedule changes affects peple dealing with mental health cnditins. Summer is naturally seen as a fun time; hwever, fr sme it is a time when mental health issues becme wrse. Final thughts: Being diagnsed with a mental health cnditin des nt mean yu and/r yur family is nt ging t be able t enjy a great summer. What is des mean is that yu need t be mre vigilant abut structuring yur/ yur child s summer in a way that best meets yur family s needs. Als, yu have t wrk a little harder at making sure yu/ yur child are aware f yur/ their feelings and are cmmunicating needs t yur/ their supprt system, such as family and friends. If yu and/ r yur child are taking a psychtrpic medicatin, it is imprtant fr yu/ yur child t take this medicatin as prescribed in rder t avid making symptms wrse. If yu feel like yur/ yur child s symptms are getting wrse and yu/ they are unable t manage them, seek assistance frm a mental health prfessinal. Abve all, take care f yurself and yur children, s yur family can enjy the summer! Take care f yurself physically. Get enugh sleep Eat sensibly Exercise regularly Tap int supprts Seek additinal help as needed References 1. Surce: Dealing with mental health issues during the summer. GdTherapy.rg http://www.gdtherapy.rg/blg/mental-health-summer-depressin-adhd- 0430125/ 2. Surce: Seasnal Affective Disrder. MayClinic.rg http://www.mayclinic.rg/diseases-cnditins/seasnal-affectivedisrder/basics/definitin/cn-20021047