Can You Get Seasonal Depression In The Summer?

Seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a type of major depression that reoccurs on a seasonal basis. “It’s a depression that comes at certain times regularly,” says Norman Rosenthal, M.D., a psychiatrist and clinical professor of psychology at Georgetown University.

Seasonal depression is triggered when the seasons begin to change. Most often, it begins in late fall and early winter, as the days get shorter, and then improves in spring, as daylight lasts longer. This is called winter-pattern SAD, or winter depression. In other cases, however, seasonal depression can start in the late spring or early summer, called summer-pattern SAD, or summer depression.

In order to be diagnosed with SAD, you must have experienced a depression that lasts only during a certain season each year and that reoccurs for a minimum of two years, according to criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Additionally, an individual must experience more seasons of depression throughout their lifetime than seasons in which they do not experience depression.

It’s possible to experience seasonal depression in the summertime.

“It started off with our recognition of people getting depressed regularly in the winter, which had a whole fit of symptoms and treatments on its own,” says Dr. Rosenthal, who was a pioneer in researching SAD as a new condition. “And then, after many, many people contacted us with their stories, it emerged that a sector expressed troubles in the summer. So that led us to say, there’s a summer SAD as well as a winter SAD.”

While both winter and summer SAD are driven by changes in the seasons, Dr. Rosenthal explains that summertime seasonal depression manifests as a separate set of issues from wintertime SAD. Whereas those experiencing seasonal depression in the winter tend to feel “sluggish” and “lackadaisical,” Dr. Rosenthal describes those with summer SAD as “agitated” and “not slowed down physically.”

Additionally, those dealing with summer SAD may experience:

• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss
• Difficulty sleeping
• Violent behavior

The symptoms of summer SAD tend to be less unified in their symptoms and causation than those of winter SAD, adds Dr. Rosenthal. “The winter folks are more alike to one another than the summer folks are,” he says. “Because summer folks are divided into those that cannot tolerate the heat, but there are yet others that cannot tolerate the light.”

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Researchers haven’t yet pinpointed what might put someone at risk for developing summer SAD, according to Dr. Rosenthal. “There’s much less known about it,” he says, suggesting it’s due to the fact that it’s less common and less consistent in symptoms than winter SAD and doesn’t tend to last as long.

However, Dr. Rosenthal suggests that one potential risk factor of seasonal depression during the summer may be related to thyroid abnormalities (thyroid function can be influenced by factors such as light and temperature). Since the thyroid is involved in regulating metabolism, if metabolism runs too high, that, “can be agitating and may contribute,” he explains.

Other potential risk factors include:

• Having a family history of summer SAD
• Being female, as women are more likely than men to experience summer SAD
• Living closer to the equator
• Having a history of depression

There are a number of potential contributing causes for summer SAD. This can include:

• Changes in daily rhythms: During summertime, daily rhythms can get out of sync as the sun is rising earlier and setting later. According to Dr. Rosenthal, for some individuals dealing with summer SAD, “the day gets jumbled around in a way that causes them to be depressed.” Certain occupations, such as teachers, can also face schedule changes during the summer. The increase in vacations can also throw off schedules and routines.
• Heat and humidity: For some people, summer weather can trigger symptoms of seasonal depression, says Dr. Rosenthal.
• Too much sunlight: As noted previously, there is more sunlight in summer than during other seasons, as the days are longer. This can disrupt the circadian rhythm and therefore sleep, which can trigger depression.
• Summertime social pressures: There are a number of social pressures unique to the summertime that can trigger seasonal depression. This can include worrying about how you’ll look in your swimsuit to fretting about whether you’re going to enough events and taking full advantage of the warm weather. Parents can face additional stressors if their kids are out of school for the summer, as they may need to juggle their childrens’ schedules while keeping up with work and their own responsibilities.

There are a number of ways to try to fend off summer SAD, according to Dr. Rosenthal. These include:

• Taking cool baths or showers
• Swimming in a cold lake
• Wearing dark sunglasses
• Adopting a daily rhythm, like looking at the sun first thing in the morning

Other remedies that may help ease summertime SAD include:

• Going to air-conditioned spaces when it’s hot outside
• Getting enough sleep
• Talking to a therapist or doctor
• Eating a well-balanced diet
• Exercising regularly

Dr. Rosenthal adds that he also treats patients who experience depression in the summer with antidepressants. He aims to start patients with medication sooner than later to “try to head it off.” “Oftentimes, if you treat depression earlier in its curve, you have a better shot at getting it under control,” he says.

“If you’re just feeling not yourself, or under the weather, try some of these simple things like keeping cool, keeping in the shade and easing up on social pressures,” says Dr. Rosenthal.

However, you should never hesitate to contact your doctor for professional help if you feel you need it. “I would say that if anybody felt any self-destructive thoughts or suicidal ideas, then they should go straight to the doctor,” says Dr. Rosenthal, emphasizing that it’s “not something you should be treating on your own.”

You may also consider reaching out for professional help if you’re having trouble sleeping or are struggling in your work or personal relationships. A therapist or medical professional can provide you with the treatment you need to get back to feeling like yourself.