The summer blues aren’t just an expression. It turns out they may be part of a real medical condition.
The summer blues aren’t just an expression. It turns out they may be part of a real medical condition.
“We call this summer seasonal affective disorder, or summer SAD,” said Christina Lee, a psychiatrist and regional medical director of mental health services for Kaiser Permanente.
Dr. Lee told WTOP that while seasonal depression is most commonly thought of as a winter phenomenon, 10% of people who suffer from seasonal depression issues are actually more affected by weather conditions like what we’ve been having in the DC area lately.
“It is related to an overabundance of sunlight and other environmental stressors, such as increased heat, increased humidity and high pollen levels,” she said.
Lee said summer seasonal affective disorder could even become more common with harsher global temperatures and an increase in allergens in our environment.
Heat and excess light can also induce fatigue and disrupt circadian sleep rhythms.
“At worst, it can also make people feel aggressive,” Lee said.
Summer SAD can even trigger suicidal thoughts. But the good news is that, according to Lee, there are cures — ways to mitigate the symptoms or even avoid them altogether.
“The first thing would be to stay cool,” he said. “We know it’s the heat that makes you feel bad.”
Lee said staying cool in this case is a very literal thing. Use air conditioning, drink cold water and stay hydrated, take cold showers or go to a public space with water if the air conditioning is not working.
“The second thing is to try to maintain a normal sleep cycle,” she said. That could mean reducing light when you sleep by doing things like going to bed on time and buying blackout curtains to block out light in the early morning hours.
She said prioritizing self-care if you’re feeling down can also give you a huge mental boost. In this case, “self-care” encompasses everything from exercising regularly (without overdoing it), meditating, and eating regular, nutrient-dense, unprocessed meals.
Lastly, she said that you should take advantage of active opportunities to interact socially and connect with people if you are feeling SAD during these months.
“Most people withdraw and feel isolated when they are depressed, so sometimes you have to work against that and push through,” she said, adding that it is important to surround yourself with people who make you feel good and are positive influences.
If all of these methods don’t work and feelings of sadness still persist, she says it may be time to seek professional help.
“Intervention at that time is certainly crucial. And the sooner you can intervene, the better,” Lee said.
The bottom line?
Lee said the summer blues are more common than you think, and if you’re suffering from them, you’re not alone. But with resources available and the conversation about mental health and self-care becoming more common, she said you have the tools you need to overcome them and live your best life.
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