Author and PublicationAuthor and Publication * Author: Heather Loeb * Publication: Corpus Christi Caller-Times Main Content Introduction: * The author expresses their dislike for summer and its associated factors, including heat, crowds, and the end of their children’s school routine. Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): * The author discusses the concept of reverse SAD, where individuals experience depressive symptoms during warmer months. * They identify themselves as someone who experiences this condition. Negative Effects of Summer: * The author shares how summer triggers feelings of malaise, depression, and difficulty with work. * They emphasize the pain of increased air conditioning bills and the challenges of staying motivated. Coping Mechanisms: * Maintain a Routine: Stick to a morning wake-up time, even when children are on vacation. * Prioritize Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night. * Practice Positive Coping Skills: Engage in activities that relieve stress and boost mood, such as deep breathing, meditation, and exercise. * Self-Care: Engage in activities that promote well-being, such as taking baths, reading, or getting massages. * Limit Social Media Usage: Reduce screen time as it can negatively impact mental health. * Practice Positive Self-Talk: Combat negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Conclusion: * The author acknowledges the challenges of coping with summer but expresses optimism about using the coping mechanisms provided. * They vow to maintain a positive outlook and anticipate the arrival of autumn and winter. Additional Information: * The author mentions their own struggles with mental health conditions and their work as an advocate for mental health awareness.
| for the Corpus Christi Caller-Times
I am not a fan of summer. I hate sweating, swimming, the heat, the long daylight hours, and the fact that my kids are out of school (and their later summer bedtimes). I don’t wear shorts or sand from the beach. I am definitely not an outdoors person.
It’s not all hate, though. I recently read that seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can occur during the summer months. It usually strikes people during the winter months when there’s less sunshine and isolation, but about 30 percent of people with SAD experience spring and summer depression, according to WebMD.com. The same article reported that people with “reverse SAD” typically experience common depressive symptoms for four or five months when the weather is warmer.
I’m pretty sure I’m one of those people.
I love the cooler weather, the sun setting at 6pm, the holidays that happen in cold weather, the outfits and the fact that my kids Are at school. I feel that there is magic in the air during the fall and winter.
I don’t have any magical feeling about summer, just the pain of the ever-increasing air conditioning bill.
Lately I’ve been feeling this malaise coming over me, accompanied by my depression. I have dysthymia and major depressive disorder, so I’m often depressed, but I’ve noticed it more in the past few years during the summer months, this year in particular, and it’s only the beginning of July.
It starts when school is out for the summer. I have a hard time letting go of my routine of waking up at 5am and getting the kids off to school and then planning my busy days. And even though my kids go to camp most weeks of summer vacation, I still have a hard time getting my days started and getting my work done. My writer’s block kicks in and it feels like I have to pull teeth to keep working on my computer. It’s really annoying and Gilmore Girls is a lot of viewing, despite how many times I’ve watched it (72 times I think??).
I know I should get outside and get some vitamin D, but that doesn’t feel right, especially with the heat we’re experiencing right now. That’s why the idea of reverse SAD and summer depression makes sense to me. I long for rainy days, which seem to recharge my batteries and make me feel more relaxed. Rain has a calming effect on me and I feel less stressed and anxious. It’s very therapeutic.
But rainy days are few and far between. I’ve had to brainstorm ways to get through the summer and help my sluggishness between showers. If you’re feeling the same way, these ideas might help.
- Stick to a routine. If you are a parent (especially a stay-at-home parent), this will be harder, but I recommend waking up at the same time every day and doing everything you would do during the school year.
- Get enough sleep. Poor sleep can cause problems with regulating emotions, which can make you more vulnerable to depression. Fact: 75% of people with depression have trouble sleeping. I think the recommendation is to get seven to nine hours of sleep a night (I understand that’s hard for some).
- Use positive coping skills. Deep breathing, meditation, yoga, reading, journaling, exercising, and working on creative projects can help manage stress. Find something you enjoy doing and use it to fight the blues.
- Self-care. This is a big one — self-care is an act you can do to promote your physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. Self-care improves our ability to function in a challenging world. It can help reduce stress, increase happiness, and build healthy relationships. Self-care can include taking a long bath, reading a book, going for a walk, binge-watching your favorite shows (be careful with that one), journaling, reading, and getting a massage.
- Take a break from social media. I think of this as a “depression trap.” A 2022 study reported that users spend an average of two hours and 27 minutes per day on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter (Harvard.edu). The report went on to say that staying so connected and exposed to too much content can take a toll on your mental health, relationships, and productivity.
- Practice positive self-talk. I used to let every negative thought affect my daily life. It took a lot of practice to stop those thoughts and correct them with positive thoughts. It also helps me to read positive affirmations throughout the day. I even have an app on my phone that sends them to me every hour or so. It really makes a difference in my confidence and mood.
I realize that summer is not even halfway over and that it will be warm and sunny well into August, September and October. But having an action plan with ways to deal with it gives me the confidence that I can fight this and win. I hope it helps you too.
I swear I will have a positive attitude and dream of autumn and winter. Anything is better than a scorching summer.
In the meantime, I practice my rain dances.
Heather Loeb has struggled with major depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, and a personality disorder for over 20 years, while also battling the stigma of mental health. She is the creator of Unruly Neurons (www.unrulyneurons.com), a blog dedicated to normalizing depression, and is the Affiliate Leader for NAMI Greater Corpus Christi.
