Autism and S.A.D

Many individuals that are on the Autism Spectrum have been diagnosed with many other things. One thing that people with Autism suffer from is Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Seasonal Affective Disorder also known as S.A.D effects as many as 20% of the people in the United States. The symptoms of S.A.D vary. It can be mild or severe. In Sarah's case it is pretty severe and is worse during the winter holidays.

Unfortunately I did not even know that S.A.D existed when Sarah was young. She was not officially diagnosed with it until she was much older. I just thought her actions and reactions were all a part of Autism. Not realizing back then that Autism was just a blanket term.

Some of the milder symptoms of S.A.D are sadness, lack of focus, fatigue and moodiness. When you have Autism these symptoms can exaggerate immensely.

Experts think that one of the causes of S.A.D is lack of sunlight. Lack of light may upset your sleep-wake cycle and other circadian rhythms, and it may cause problems with a brain chemical called serotonin that affects mood.

You can minimize these symptoms by doing these things.

1. Get Your Daily Dose Of Sunlight.

Get as much natural light as possible between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Get outside and go for a walk, or at least sit by a window. Open the curtains, pull up the shades, and spend time in the sunniest room in the house.

Some people might be helped by special “light therapy boxes.” Talk with your doctor about whether you should try one of these devices.

2. Eat Foods Containing Tryptophan

Many who suffer from seasonal depression may experience decreased levels of serotonin, the brain’s neurotransmitter. Tryptophan is an amino acid known to be a precursor of serotonin, so eating foods that contain it may increase your body’s production of serotonin, thus making you feel better. Foods rich in tryptophan include turkey, spinach, bananas, seafood, milk, and egg whites.

3. Limit Alcohol And Caffeine

Alcohol is a depressant that can lower your mood, and caffeine usually leaves you anxious. They might make you feel better short-term but these can lead to mood swings that can deepen your depression.

4. Get Moving

Getting your heart rate up and breaking a sweat is a sure way to raise serotonin and endorphin levels – this is especially beneficial if you do it in the morning. Even better, exercise in the sun or near a sunny window.

You can also keep your body’s clock in sync by rising and retiring at the same time each day, even on weekends or days off from work.

5. Use Essential Oils

Essential oils can be powerful mood-lifters and are perfect to help combat the winter blues and re-energize you, especially when combined with the above treatments.

This is the time of year to use your citrus essential oils. Wild Orange, Tangerine, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit and Bergamont are all energizing and mood elevating oils that uplift the spirits when the winter blues set in.

There are many ways you can use these essential oils to help alleviate the symptoms of S.A.D.

1. You can diffuse essential oils in the air

2. Add essential oils to your bath water

3. Rub essential oils on your feet

The list goes on and on.

As always be sure to seek guidance from a professional if the feelings of depression become overwhelming. If they are not severe, however, some of the natural home remedies listed above may provide some welcome relief over the next couple of months!

I want to thank Jillee (onegoodthingbyjillee) for your wonderful article from which I took some of this information to share with my readers.