If you’re feeling down during the sunny season, here are some strategies to help you manage your symptoms.
Summer depression, also known as summer-pattern seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or reverse SAD, is a less common type of seasonal depression that occurs during the warmer months. While most episodes of depression typically happen in winter, up to 30 percent of people with seasonal depression experience it during the summer. Although experts don’t know exactly what causes summer-pattern SAD, like all mental disorders, it’s likely related to a variety of factors, including biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
In addition, people with summer-pattern SAD may experience:
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Lack of appetite, resulting in weight loss
- Agitation and restlessness
If you’re feeling down during the sunny season, here are some strategies to help you manage your symptoms.
WAYS TO COPE WITH SUMMER DEPRESSION
- Identify Your Summer Triggers: Recognise the specific factors that lead to your summer depression. Whether it’s changes in routine, excessive heat, or other triggers, understanding what affects your mood can help you address it effectively.
- Prioritize Sleep: Ensure you get enough restful sleep. Regulating your sleep schedule and maintaining consistent sleep patterns can positively impact your mood.
- Stay Active: Engage in regular physical activity. Exercise release endorphins, which can improve your overall well-being. Even light exercise, such as walking or swimming can be beneficial.
- Take a Social Media Break: Although social media can help people stay connected to others, it has downsides for mental health. Overexposure to social media has been linked to higher levels of loneliness, anxiety, depression and narcissism.
- Practice Body-Positivity Self-Talk: Body image issues tend to worsen during summer, especially because lighter clothing and bathing suits are much more common during the hotter months. At that time, you need to keep your mind positive and be not worried about the stuff. Start to love and embrace yourself even more.