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Every year, despite knowing better, Im surprised that mydepressiondoesnt magically disappear in the summer.
Getty / the burtons
In the winter, sure, of course Im depressed!
Its cold and dark and all too easy to roll up in a blanket burrito and hibernate.
But summer is supposed to behappy.
Who cares if I know logically that thats not how depression works?
Turns out its completely normal to experiencesummertime sadnessthat can manifest in a number of ways.
They think, When summer comes, Ill do all these things and have all these experiences!
and when that doesnt materialize, they feel worse.
Also, some people just hate the summer, which is reason enough to feel awful.
In some places, summer is a sweaty, stinky, humid hellscape.
But all of the above is different from actually feelingdepressedor more depressedas the weather heats up.
In my case, realizing that my depression doesnt take a summer vacation just makes everything worse.
Luckily, experts have some tips:
1.
Acknowledge that this is a thing.
You want to take advantage of every piece of information you have.
For instance, maybe it would make sense to schedule extratherapyappointments during the summer if possible.
Theres also value in putting a name to your experience.
Reminding yourself, OK, this is something real that happens to me, can offer solace and validation.
Drop the image of what summer is supposed to look like.
(In fact, Ill join you!)
Be proactive about meeting your own expectations.
All of that said, having expectations isnt necessarily a bad thing, says Winch.
They just…dont.
Plus, life doesnt stop for summer just because we want it to.
Various studies have linked high temperatures withdepressed and agitated moodsandincreased mental health emergencies.
On top of that, some people might be less tolerant of heat than others.
Consider reducing your exposure to light.
But either way, its worth seeing if addressing the issue will help your symptoms.
Give blackout shades a try, but ditch them if you find your symptoms getting worse.
Try not to isolate yourself.
Remember those annoyingly common summer expectations?
A lot of people really suck at making plans.
Get how it can be a vicious cycle?
Weve all been therepsychologists are callingloneliness an epidemicfor a reason.
Just dont be afraid to start small.
On the other hand, reading a book in the park is pretty emotionally low-risk.
Think: sports leagues, summer classes, localMeetups, etc.
Know when to seek help.
Its about when you feel stuck and defeated, says Winch.
Since finding a therapist can be daunting, thisguide to finding affordable therapyand thisteletherapy primermight come in handy.
