Chasing The Blues
An elementary school teacher commented that colder weather and shorter days in mid-winter seemed to affect the mood of her students. She said casual observations over the years led her to believe that youngsters diagnosed with autism tended to be more withdrawn, less attentive, less responsive, and generally lethargic during winter months. Family members and therapists report similar behaviors. What are some strategies for chasing away those blues?
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A number of different factors and circumstances might contribute to despondency, but you can take two steps to help elevate mood during the darker winter days. The first is to increase exposure to natural light, and the second is to increase purposeful activity.
NATURAL LIGHT. The post about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) on the WebMD website (http://www.webmd.com) mentions research about the effect of light on production of melatonin and serotonin that indicates “light therapy has an antidepressant effect.” The site also states “Many doctors recommend that patients with SAD try to get outside early in the morning to increase their exposure to natural light.” Even when Seasonal Affective Disorder is not a factor, most of us can still benefit from spending more time outside If it is cold, just bundle up and enjoy the great outdoors. Plan to walk outside every day with your friend with autism. Walk to the mailbox, pick up the newspaper, stroll around the block, or walk the dog. Find interesting places to walk – a park, a beach, the shoreline of a lake or pond, or a downtown street. If the youngsters hesitate to leave their own yard or school grounds, take a walk around the yard or around the school grounds. Get outside and enjoy swinging, skating, or shooting hoops.
GET ACTIVE. Make fun physical activities a predictable, regular part of each day. For example, when the clock marks the top of the hour, everyone could stretch to the sky and touch the floor five times. Some individuals resist exercise, whether they function on the spectrum of autism or not. So you can sneak in opportunities to move around every day. For example, your friend with autism could be in charge of picking up the mail or sweeping the floor. Or you could plan a tour of the school or the mall or the grocery store every day. The key to success is to provide enjoyable, regular activity throughout the day.
TIP FOR THE DAY. The idea is to spend some time outside in the winter, and to get up and moving on a regular basis throughout each day. These may be the keys to chasing the blues away.
And, speaking of chasing the blues, encourage your friends to subscribe or click on http://FAQautism.com daily for a short podcast or e-mail post to add a little pep to their lives.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
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