Ray of Light
I got the call last week I knew would come around this time. Tim’s not having a good week. He’s not sleeping much, easily agitated, and lashing out. He has a new caseworker and she wasn’t sure why. But I knew. It’s Fall.
Tim definitely cycles based on the seasons. I joke that I can use him as a calendar, he’s so regular. Every October he’s in a mixed state for a good several weeks, often accompanied by some hardcore psychosis. Every March it’s depression, self-loathing, and paranoia. He wasn’t always this regular. He had younger days of mania, mixed states, and depression seemingly on an endless loop. His 12 inpatient stays weren’t just in October in March, but between 2005 and 2009, he did have an inpatient stay every October and March.
It’s not unusual for seasons to affect persons with Bipolar Disorder. Many people report having manic episodes in the Spring and Summer and depressive cycles in late Fall and Winter, not unlike persons with Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is characterized by depression occurring in the Winter months. It makes perfect sense to me. Long nights, short days, less light. I know I’m a little down in the Winter, when I go to work in the dark and come home from work in the dark.
Many parents have shared on our online support groups that their kids have found some relief by using a light box – sometimes called phototherapy - during the dark days. As little as 20 minutes a day of simulated natural light has been shown to improve mood for persons prone to seasonal depression. Tim, unfortunately, would never sit still for the light box. Last year we managed to stave off his depression and psychosis with the addition of a second anti-psychotic from October through December, and again this Spring, from March until May. Fall is usually a shorter cycle than the Spring one, so this year his doctor suggested we try an additional med PRN, which I much prefer. Does your child experience seasonal cycling? What therapies have you tried that have helped?
This sounds very familiar. Mason cycles with the seasons, and living in Montana we tend to have days of no sun at all. We used light therapy, physical activity, and extra 'play therapy' time. A med change was done slowly between Dec '09 and Feb '10, so maybe this year will be different. We have had very little psychosis or mood swings, and no rages since January. My attitude has been fairly positive in my hopes for Mason's seasonal change. We'll see.
Best of luck with the change. Tim's really bad season is late winter/early spring, after weeks of freezing weather and very little sunlight. I'm crossing my fingers!
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Chrisa, 43, Chicago Suburbs, Internet eCommerce Professional
Mom to Tim, 16, Developmental Disability / Schizoaffective Disorder, Clozaril, in RTC
Also mom to Di, 15, RAD; Alex, 19, college sophomore
Married to Tom, 42, SAHD and high school pole vault coach
New to this blog and I notice there is often family info left. I just don't understand all of the abbreviations. A quick lesson? My daughter's depression cycles with winter which is also her birthday, always an emotional issue.
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kal
Hi Kathleen:
We do have our own language here, and those of us that have been here a while forget that when we're talking to newer parents.
Here's a list of the common abbreviations we use, to keep our fingers from getting tired. :-)
http://www.bpkids.org/learn/library/glossary-of-terms
In my signature, the abbreviations stand for:
RTC : Residential Treatment Center
RAD: Reactive Attachment Disorder
SAHD: Stay At Home Dad
Hope that helps!
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Chrisa, 43, Chicago Suburbs, Internet eCommerce Professional
Mom to Tim, 16, Developmental Disability / Schizoaffective Disorder, Clozaril, in RTC
Also mom to Di, 15, RAD; Alex, 19, college sophomore
Married to Tom, 42, SAHD and high school pole vault coach
October!! Fall has always been my favorite season...however it is now truly a "demonic" time. My 14 year old son Andrew cycles from manic to depressed at the drop of a hat. It is usually the only time he is physically abusive as well. When he was little I could restrain him however, now it takes 4 policemen to get him under control. I feel the most alone at this time of year. No one truly understands juvenile bipolar disorder unless they have gone through it. His birthday is also in October so I feel that extra dose of guilt at this time. I don't understand why the medication doesn't work at these times. Does the psychiatrist have to change the meds with the seasons?