Summertime often makes people think of those carefree days, enjoying the sun and living easy, but this may not be the case for everyone. Summertime Blues, also known as summer depression is a real thing for a large number of people. This seasonal affective disorder can be very serious, and may require counselling and support to overcome.
What is Summer Depression?
Summer-onset seasonal affective disorder (SAD), can be brought on by the sun's effect on our circadian rhythms. The circadian rhythm is the 24 hour cycle that most organisms experiences, that control our sleeping and eating patterns. These cycles can be affected by a number of things, and one of these is the amount of sunlight we are exposed to. A disruption in the circadian rhythms with summer SAD tends to manifest itself as agitation. Someone with the summertime blues may appear moody, and have trouble eating or sleeping properly.
Summer depression may also be brought on by other by a number of other factors. This can include feelings of inadequacy when it appears everyone else is enjoying fancy vacations or has the perfect summer bodies, or even from the stress of the kids being home all day.
How Can Counselling Help?
One of the concerns of summer depression is that it can lead to thoughts or feelings of suicide. While the main reason for summer depression may be due to disruptions in the circadian rhythm, any number of other factors might be making this worse. A counsellor will be able to work with you to determine what is causing your summertime blues, and work on ways to manage and cope.
If you notice you are agitated in the summertime, or have a friend or family member that appears so, make sure you talk with them, and perhaps recommend counselling services such as Kuldip Counselling. With the seriousness of depression, it may be the best decision you ever make.