The summer blues isn’t just an expression — it could actually be part of a real medical condition.
The summer blues isn’t just an expression — it could actually be part of a real medical condition.
“We call it summer seasonal affective disorder, or summer SAD,” says Christina Lee, M.D., a psychiatrist and regional medical director of mental health services at Kaiser Permanente.
Lee told WTOP that while seasonal depression is typically thought of as a winter phenomenon, 10 percent of people who suffer from seasonal depression are actually more affected by weather events, like what’s been happening recently in the Washington, D.C., area.
“This has to do with excess sunlight and other environmental stresses such as rising temperatures, rising humidity and elevated pollen levels,” she says.
Lee said that as global temperatures continue to rise and allergens in the environment increase, summer SAD may become even more common.
Heat and excess light can induce fatigue and disrupt your circadian sleep rhythm.
“In the worst case scenario, it could make people aggressive,” Lee said.
Summer SAD can also lead to suicidal thoughts, but the good news is that there are treatments available to help ease the symptoms or avoid them altogether, says Lee.
“The first thing is to stay cool,” she said. “I know the heat can make you sick.”
Lee said staying cool in this case means literally using air conditioning, drinking cold water to stay hydrated, and taking cold showers or going to a public place with running water if your air conditioning isn’t working.
“The second is to maintain a normal sleep cycle,” she said, which means reducing light while you’re sleeping, such as by going to bed on time, or buying blackout curtains to block out early morning light.
She also says that prioritizing self-care can give you a major mental boost if you’re feeling SAD — in this case, “self-care” can include everything from regular exercise (not too much), meditation, and eating nutritious, whole foods regularly.
Finally, if you’ve been feeling SAD over the past few months, she said you should actively participate in social activities and take opportunities to connect with people.
“Most people when they’re depressed tend to withdraw and feel isolated, so sometimes you need to go against that and put yourself out there,” she says, adding that it’s important to surround yourself with people who make you feel good and are a positive influence.
If you’ve tried all of these methods and they don’t work, and feelings of sadness persist, it may be time to seek professional help, she says.
“Intervention at that point is definitely important, and the earlier the intervention, the better,” Lee said.
The conclusion?
Lee said the summer blues is more common than you might think, and people who suffer from it aren’t alone, but she said resources exist and conversations about mental health and self-care are becoming more and more common, so people have the tools they need to overcome the blues and live their best lives.
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