6 Signs of Summer Depression
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By Vivian Bricker, Crosswalk.com
Summer depression is a real issue as it is often associated with seasonal depressive disorder (SAD). While many people think seasonal depressive disorder only occurs in the fall or winter months, it can actually happen during any season of the year, even summer. Although many of us associate summer with being the happiest season of the year, there are many people who don't feel this way. They see summer as a dreaded season and seek to avoid it at all costs.
The good news is that if you have summer depression, you don't have to go untreated. There are many things that can help you, such as getting the right medication and starting therapy. Through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), you will be able to work through the deep sorrow in your heart and heal from the pain within. While I cannot promise you that your summer depression can be entirely healed, it can be alleviated.
Below are a few signs to look for in your own life to see if you have summer depression, but it is not a diagnostic tool. You do need to talk with your primary care doctor about any symptoms or behaviors you are noticing in order to get the help that you need. In truth, the only way to get the proper treatment is to talk with your primary care doctor, receive a diagnosis, and go from there. Take the first step today and make an appointment to talk with your primary care doctor about your concerns surrounding summer depression.
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1. Low Mood or Extreme Feelings of Sadness
A great way to gauge whether or not you have summer depression is if you notice you have a low mood or extreme feelings of sadness during the summer months. If you notice that these symptoms only occur during the summer months, it is likely due to summer depression. However, if you notice you have a low mood and extreme feelings of sadness throughout the entire year, it could be because you have clinical depression. Talking with your doctor about these concerns can help you receive the correct diagnosis and begin to make progress towards healing.
A low mood is when you feel as though nothing makes you happy, and you feel down all the time. Sometimes there is a reason behind the low mood or extreme feelings of sadness, and sometimes there isn't. With depression, there can be no actual cause or reasoning behind why we feel depressed. We just feel sad for no apparent reason. If this is something you are experiencing, especially during the summer months, then it is a telltale sign that you are suffering from summer depression.
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2. Eating Too Much or Too Little
Various behaviors will manifest once we are struggling with depression. For those of us who have any form of depression, it will show up in the way we eat. For some of us, we eat too little, and for others, we eat too much. Neither extreme is good; however, it is hard to manage when you are in the trenches of depression. Eating too little or eating too much can be ways of coping with the emotions surrounding depression and can be an attempt to help us forge ahead with life.
Therefore, don't feel ashamed of your behaviors. Your mind is simply trying to cope with everything that is happening. Getting the right medication and therapy program can do wonders for balancing our meals. You might be surprised at how much your hunger will regulate and go back to normal once you are on the right treatment plan. However, for the time being, know that it is not a personal shortcoming that you are struggling with eating enough or eating too much.
It is simply part of depression, and it can flare up from time to time. It has nothing to do with discipline. Many people feel as though they are losing control of their lives or letting themselves go when they begin to use food as a coping mechanism, but try your best not to allow it to mean so much. Acknowledge that your brain is doing this to protect you, and it is only a temporary bandage until you are able to get the proper treatment that you need for your summer depression.
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3. Sleeping Too Much or Too Little
In addition to summer depression affecting our eating habits, it can also cause us to sleep too much or too little. Think about your current sleeping routine. Are you sleeping excessively, or do you have trouble staying asleep? Whenever we are sleeping too much or too little, it is a sign that we are struggling with depression. While I wish there were a quick fix for this, unfortunately, the best route is medication management and therapy.
Many people try to create a more relaxing bedtime routine, which can work; however, it is not guaranteed for everyone. Try creating a more relaxing bedtime routine to help you calm down before bed, and see if that helps you sleep better. If you find that you are sleeping too much, set an alarm clock to wake you in the morning and place it away from your nightstand so you actually have to get up to turn it off. Also, avoid napping throughout the day and replace the time you would have napped with time spent outside or doing an activity you enjoy.
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4. Self Isolation
Depression can manifest in many ways, yet one of the most apparent ways it can be seen in our own lives and in the lives of others is through self-isolation. Self-isolation normally goes hand-in-hand with depression, as those of us who struggle with depression often have a hard time connecting with other people. We feel like a burden on the world and don't want to bother others with our needs, worries, or concerns. If you have noticed you have been self-isolating, ask yourself, “Why?”
If you say you have been self-isolating, but it wasn't on purpose, then it might not be summer depression. Maybe you are simply too busy, and you have not had time to meet up with loved ones. However, if you say you have been self-isolating because you feel like a burden or don't want to go out, then it could be a huge indicator of summer depression. It is also important to look back at previous years. If you discover that you have a habit of self-isolating during the summer months, then it could be a clear sign that you are struggling with summer depression.
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5. No Interest in Activities You Used to Love
Most of the time, when summer comes around, everyone is excited to go to the pool, amusement parks, and spend more time in the sun. If you have summer depression, you probably feel sorrowful and uneasy about the upcoming months of summer. The things you used to enjoy during the summer are no longer enjoyable to you. For example, you don't look forward to going to the beach or going to the mall with your friends. You would rather spend the summer inside, safe and tucked away in your room.
Regardless of the season of the year, if we notice that we don't have an interest in the activities we used to love, then we are clearly looking at some sort of depression. Depression causes us to lose interest in the things we once enjoyed. Therefore, not enjoying going to the pool, spending time with friends, or being part of a summer book club is something you should bring to your doctor's attention. They will take your concerns seriously and help you take the next steps toward the proper treatment you need and deserve.
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6. Restlessness, Irritability, And Anger
Many people think depression only has to do with intense sorrow. While there are individuals who only struggle with sorrow, there are also many individuals whose depression manifests in other ways. For example, many people’s depression manifests in the form of restlessness, irritability, and anger. This is especially true for children, teens, and men; however, it is also common in adult women. If you are finding that you are more restless, irritable, and angry during the summer months, the cause could be depression.
Restlessness looks like not being able to sit still or finish a task. Irritability means you get frustrated and lose your temper over little things. Increased anger translates to getting upset over things that normally wouldn't cause you any issue. Whenever you notice these symptoms, it is important to reach out to a trained professional. As mentioned, the best way to treat depression is a mixture of medications and therapy.
While there are many herbal remedies out there, none of them can actually cure depression. Most herbal remedies are scams, and they are not backed by the FDA (the US Food and Drug Administration). Therefore, choose to stay with legitimate doctors and reach out to them for help. Getting the help that you need and deserve will improve your summer depression and help you face it in the years to come.
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