Summertime Sadness: Summer-Pattern SAD
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is commonly associated with the wintertime, when the days get darker and we spend more time inside. However, 10% of those diagnosed with SAD experience seasonal depression in the summertime (Burtch-Buss, 2023). Summer is usually associated with outdoor fun, vacation, and freedom, but not for everyone. Read on to learn more about summer-pattern SAD, how it differs from its more common winter-pattern counterpart, and tips to manage this difficult condition.
Symptoms of both winter and summer-pattern SAD include depressed mood, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, social withdrawal, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, and difficulty concentrating. However, while winter SAD is generally associated with fatigue, lethargy, and weight gain, sufferers of summer SAD are more likely to experience high anxiety, insomnia, and weight loss (Burtch-Buss, 2023). Importantly, risk of suicidal ideation and suicidality is higher in summer SAD than winter (Sima, 2023).
Why these differences? Researchers have many theories. Summer SAD may come with an increased risk of suicidality because people have more energy; the lethargic-type depression common in winter SAD may be protective against harming oneself (Sima, 2023). Just as cold, dark conditions trigger depression in those with winter SAD, the heat, humidity, and light may do the same in summer SAD (Sima, 2023). Changes in light impact our circadian rhythm, which is involved with serotonin, a brain chemical that moderates mood. In both patterns, the body’s homeostatic mechanisms, or the systems that keep us regulated through environmental changes, are struggling to cope, resulting in emotional dysregulation (Sima, 2023). Pollen in the air leads to allergies and inflammation, another possible contributing factor to summer SAD (Sima, 2023). Social changes, such as kids home for the summer, the stress of planning vacations, and having to pick up the slack from out-of-town coworkers can also influence summer SAD (Burtch-Buss, 2023). Finally, the societal expectation that summer is the best, most fun season when everyone is happiest might set people up to feel disappointed when their reality does not match up, especially if health or financial factors are standing in the way of fun in the sun (Burtch-Buss, 2023).
If you’re experiencing summer SAD, you are not alone. If your symptoms are causing you distress and disrupting your daily life, it’s important to seek professional support in the form of talk counseling, a proven treatment for SAD. It also might help to avoid the heat and light and take up indoor hobbies like reading and move your workouts indoors. If your sleep is suffering, try blackout curtains and a sleep mask to block out late evening light that may be affecting your body’s circadian rhythm. Finally, remember to take care of yourself with activities like meditation, journaling, and regular exercise.
References
Burtch-Buss, Logan. (2023, July 19). Beat summertime sadness with these cool tips. University of Arizona News. https://news.arizona.edu/news/beat-summertime-sadness-these-cool-tips
Sima, R. (2023, July 20). Sad in the summer? You may have summer seasonal depression. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/07/03/summer-sad-depression-symptoms-causes-treatment/
