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- Is it possible to get seasonal depression in the summer? In short, yes. Sometimes referred to as the “summertime blues,” this type of seasonal affective disorder often is triggered by the warmer months of the year, as opposed to cold weather.
health.clevelandclinic.org/summer-depressionYes, You Can Get SAD in the Summer - Cleveland Clinic Health ...
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Jun 5, 2024 · If you notice your mood fluctuating with seasonal change, you’re not alone. In this article, Mental Health Prevention Lead Lisa Gunn explores the signs, symptoms, and treatments for summertime seasonal affective disorder.
- Overview
- Why so SAD?
- Bright lights, big problems
- Who gets summer-onset MDD-with Seasonal Pattern (MDD-SP)?
- Treatment
Ain’t no cure for the summertime blues?
No season gets better press than summer. The livin’ is easy, school’s out for it, and Demi Lovato is cool for it. Even Shakespeare waxed poetic while sweating in his Elizabethan doublet centuries before the invention of air conditioning: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”
But summer doesn’t mean fun in the sun for everyone. Some people become sick as a result of the arrival of summer. This condition is known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. Most recently, it’s referred to as major depressive disorder (MDD) with seasonal pattern.
Seasonal affective disorder comes with the apt acronym SAD. Does that mean this disorder is SO SAD? Let’s find out more.
What is seasonal affective disorder, or MDD with seasonal pattern?
Most cases are related to winter, when days are shorter, nights are longer, and the cold keeps people holed up indoors instead of outside, absorbing sunlight. This can result in lethargy, sadness, and the feeling that you’ll never be warm or see the sun again.
Why this happens to the 5 percent of American adults with SAD isn’t fully understood.
Most evidence points to decreased sunlight affecting our circadian rhythm. This is the 24-hour cycle that drives your sleep-wake schedule and drops serotonin levels. Serotonin is the brain chemical that affects mood.
Because sunlight is believed to be the key to MDD with seasonal pattern, it’s thought that cases that occur during the summer months may result from too much sun.
Too much sunlight turns off melatonin production. Melatonin is the hormone that drives your sleep-wake cycle. Even turning on the light in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom is enough to pause its production. Longer days mean fewer hours at your body’s melatonin factory.
In addition to all that endless, blinding sun disrupting your circadian rhythm, the summer heat has been found to make those living with MDD with seasonal pattern anxious and angry.
However, this anger is not your typical “Why is the air-conditioning not working?” rant. It’s more than a flaring temper during an oppressive heat wave.
Certain people are more likely to have both kinds of SAD. Risk factors include:
•Being a woman. Females are affected by MDD with seasonal pattern more often than males, but men report more severe symptoms.
•Having a relative with MDD-SP. Like other mood disorders, there seems to be a genetic component to MDD-SP.
•Living closer to the equator. According to an early study, research showed that people in hotter areas have more summer MDD-SP in comparison to those living in areas with cooler temperatures.
There are many treatments for MDD-SP, ranging from access to air-conditioned locations to antidepressants. Treatment methods include:
•Seeking dark rooms: The proposed process of summer-onset MDD with seasonal pattern is connected to sunlight, which is the opposite of winter MDD with seasonal pattern. This may indicate that the preferred environment would also be different. Instead of light therapy, people who have summer-onset MDD with seasonal pattern may be advised to spend more time in darkened rooms. Although timing of light exposure during the day may be important for successful treatment.
•Finding that AC: Avoid an increase in your utility bill by taking in as many movies as possible. Movie theaters are dark, which is a plus. Their thermostats always seem to be set to the coldest temperature possible. Be sure to bring a sweater.
•Getting help: Talking it out with a healthcare provider can help you manage stress, find healthy coping strategies, and learn how to stay positive. It can also help you manage the FOMO — or fear of missing out — you might feel when your friends are talking about activities and experiences they’re enjoying.
- Dara Nai
Jul 3, 2024 · Some researchers question whether SAD—either the summer or winter variety—should be a medically recognized condition altogether. “As it’s conceptualized, I am skeptical,” says Steven...
Jul 12, 2021 · What are the symptoms of summer seasonal affective disorder? There are a few key signs that indicate you’re suffering from summer SAD, and most crossover with the symptoms that come with...
Some people with SAD may have symptoms during the summer and feel better during the winter. Symptoms of SAD can include: a persistent low mood. a loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities. irritability. feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness. feeling lethargic (lacking in energy) and sleepy during the day.
Jun 27, 2024 · Could it be summer SAD? While we mostly associate seasonal affective disorder (SAD) with the winter months – when it’s believed the lack of daylight triggers a form of depression in some ...
Jul 12, 2023 · Wondering why you feel a little off in the summer? It could be a sign of seasonal affective disorder during the warm months. Here’s how to identify your symptoms and tips on how to work through ...
