What does summer evoke for you? Sunshine and vacations? Beach and outside fun? Good times and summer holidays? For some, it’s a source of joy. For others, however, the summer months have a different meaning. For many, this time of the year fills them with what psychiatrist Norman Rosenthal famously named ‘summertime sadness’. When we say having the blues, we generally refer to feeling a bit low at times. For others, this painterly slate can be much more specific. That’s summertime sadness. While we yearn for the sun and light, sometimes it goes the other way around. Why should that be the case? Shouldn’t we feel happy in summer? Well, as we shall see, this can be harder than it appears. In this post, we explore what summertime sadness is, why some of us are especially affected by it, and what we can do about it.
What is Summertime Sadness?
Sometimes called summertime sadness, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can also surface in the summer and lead to the feelings of depressed mood or melancholy that many dread entering the summer months. In addition to these feelings of gloom and doom, SAD during summers can cause insomnia, anxiety, irritability, agitation, weight loss and lack of appetite.
Potential Causes of Summertime Sadness
- Heat and Humidity: Cause both physical and mental weariness; feeling of irritability with the excessive heat and agitation. 2) Disrupted Routines: Often it’s the vacations, or kids out of school, or different schedules at work that characterise the summer months. When routines are disrupted, this can lead to stress and anxiety as people feel unmoored from their usual ways of functioning.
- Body-Image Concerns: Summer issues such as wearing swimwear or being in public transparently might worsen body-image concerns.
- Loneliness and Isolation: Summer is a time for socialising for many of us, but for others it can highlight feelings of isolation. Looking at other people’s summer activities while we feel unable to participate can leave us feeling left out and estranged.
- Allergy: Summer high pollen counts can leave one feeling unwell and lethargic, leading to general malaise.
Strategies to Manage Summertime Sadness
- Cool down: Try to stay in the shade or indoors, especially in the hottest periods of the day. Use fans or air conditioning if you have them, and wear light-coloured, loosely woven, breathable clothing. Cooling your body temperature can also help you combat irritability and fatigue.
- Stick with a Routine: The changes of summer and later into the school months can provide a structure for you and your child. This will help alleviate stress and lead to success. Try to keep routines such as set sleep times, meal times, study schedules and normal days or weeks with new activities for your child.
- Be realistic: practice self-compassion and be realistic about your body and goal weight – most people are not as thin as models in magazines, and everybody has different body types. The summer is here to enjoy, no matter what you look like. Do things that make you feel good about yourself.
- Connect with Others: Spend time with family and friends; get involved with a community organisation. If you’re cutting down on social interactions to reduce your carbon footprint, consider video conferencing or internet communities.
- Book Pleasurable Activities: Think about activities you can include in your summer plans that are pleasurable. Whether booking plans to read a novel, go for a nature walk, or pick up a new hobby, make sure to book pleasurable activities into your calender.
- Get Help: If your SAD is bad enough to seriously compromise the normal functioning of your day, then bring in the trained support of a mental health professional. Therapy can help you develop healthy coping strategies.
Summertime sadness is real. So seek to understand the likely causes and, most importantly, the strategies to mitigate it. And know that it is perfectly fine not to embrace the happy go-lucky image of summer that our culture tries hard to impose. Pleasure and normality are frequently confused in people. Be good to your brain, any day of the year. This Essay was made possible by the support of a grant to Aeon from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in Aeon do not reflect the views of the Foundation, and the funders of Aeon have no role in editorial decision-making.
Are you struggling with the blues that summer brings? Ask for help. The Boundless Therapy Team is here for you. We provide professional support with your needs in mind, so you can feel better as soon as possible. Book a consultation now.