The sun is shining, the temperatures are finally reaching or exceeding a bearable level, and all aroud us are shiny, happy people in brightly coloured spring or summer clothes. So, in the words of Sheryl Crow:

“Why the hell are you so sad?”

Sheryl Crow (1996), If it Makes You Happy, Universal Music Group

Well, you have probably already heard about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Now, this is oftentimes referred to as ‘winter depression’, as it is most common to experience this during the winter months. However, a healthcare professional recently confirmed the validity of a theory of mine, that it’s actually possible to have a similar reaction to warmer, sunny weather, when I was airing to them my grievances around dreading spring because of the nagging feeling it brings with it, that you should be happy, just because everyone else seems to be – the latter often exacerbating the feeling of disconnectedness to society as a whole.

Wow, that was a long sentence.

This new information, of course, inspired me to investigate further, just in case I could find something that might help myself and others like me feel less like they don’t belong, so I will include some of my findings below.

Firstly, summer-pattern SAD is more common in people who are living with a mental disorder, such as bipolar disorder, ADHD or disordered eating; i.e., those of us who already feel as if we don’t belong.

Now, the American National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has published an educational fact sheet about SAD on their website, that highlights the difference in symptoms between winter-pattern SAD and summer-pattern SAD, and we can see that, in addition to experiencing more traditional symptoms of depression, those of us who are ‘summer sad’ can be subject to “insomnia, anxiety, aggression and restlessness”, to name a few.

Both types of SAD can affect the sleeping pattern, and most of us know what the lack of decent sleep hygiene over time can do to a person. So, is there a cure? A solution? Or should we just get over ourselves, even though we toss and turn all night, annoyed by the littlest creak from the bed? When the guided meditation podcast pisses you off to no end? When feeling like an outcast makes you hold your breath and raise your shoulders any time you have to go out into the real world? Absolutely not. There’s help to be found.

While the NIMH mentions psychotherapy and antidepressants as potential aids to lessen the symptoms of summer SAD, R. Morgan Griffin offers up some tips on how to cope on WebMD. So, regardless of if your condition is circumstantial and/or triggered by the uncertainties and expectations brought on by the occurence of summer holidays, change in office hours, et cetera, or if it’s biological, there are ways to make life a little easier when the black dog rears its ugly head at the most inopportune of times.

And finally, depression should not go untreated. You can read about how depression can change the brain on UCI Health. So, if you are experiencing detachment or a lack of ability to find enjoyment in or see the meaning of your own existence, do ask your GP to refer you to a therapist or social worker. They might be able to help lessen your load or just hear you out. If you are between GPs, or not in a place where you feel like you can trust anyone, you can check out Better Help, to see if online therapy is for you.

Most people would probably tell you to ‘just talk to a friend’, but there are a lot of us that either don’t have anyone to talk to, or we feel the need to spare our friends or colleagues from the ‘burden’.

Although, to a real friend, you letting your friend know what’s really going on with you would probably not feel as burdensome as you might think. A healthy friendship is transactional, so if you’re stuck in a situation where you’re being treated as your friend’s wailing wall, and they never ask how you’re doing? It’ll be absolutely fine – and probably necessary – to cut them lose.

I must emphasise that I am in no way a mental health professional, and that the above has been written to raise awareness and perhaps provide some gentle guidance. My views of both treatment and friendship are my own and should be regarded as opinion. I do not in any way endorse self-medication or self-diagnosis. You can read about the dangers of self-diagnosing in this article published on The Guardian.

Cheers for reading, I guess I’ll see you next Tuesday.