Seasonal Affective Disorder for summer?

[lilponygirl]

This is the third day we have been under an Excessive Heat Warning and it's driving me CRAZY!! I swear I have SAD, but can you get that during the summer? I know it is usually in winter when people don't see the sun much and they get the "Winter Blues", but I absolutely hate summer!

Also, does anyone else get depressed on or around the same time each year, i.e. the death of a loved one or traumatic accident, divorce, etc? My dad was in a car accident last year on July 11th and he was in ICU for 5 weeks. His injuries finally became too much for him and he passed away on August 18th. I swear, though, ever since the 11th or so I have been getting more and more depressed. I don't know if its my body knowing that it all happened a year ago, if it's the stinking summer heat, or if its the fact that my husband started 3rd year med school and I'm trying to cope with all that comes with that...argh! It's just too much to handle. Sorry to bring you all down; I just was curious if anyone else ever experienced any of this...

Wow - my guess is it's more related to the sad events of last year than with SAD. My mom died 9 years ago, and only in the past 2 - 3 years have I stopped remembering medical tragedies with the corresponding dates of her illness (from 2/9 to 6/25 - so there were a LOT of dates).

I'm truly sorry for the loss of your dad, and the additional stresses in your life. BTW, I'm in Kansas City & we're having the same heat issues here. I'd suggest we meet in the middle - but there really isn't anything in the middle - is there??

Take care!

[lilponygirl]

Thanks for the kind words. I guess because it wasn't constantly on my mind I didn't think it was really that, but I talked to my mom last night and she said she's been experiencing much of the same. *sigh*

Have you been in KC long? I've been in St. Louis all my life, so you'd think I'd be used to the heat/humidity, but nope, I hate it...I'm hoping Chris will get a residency up north

[SueC]

I think the humidity and heat make me extra irritable. I can't comment on how that plays into sad events that correspond with these dates, but it sure seems like it could play a part. The brain is amazing--maybe there are some pathways in your brain that associate excessive heat with sadness. Kind of like when you smell fresh baked cookies and it makes you remember the happiness you felt as a kid when you visited grandma's house, or whatever you associate with that scent or sensation.

Tomorrow will be 4 weeks in KC. I'm from Cleveland, though - and we get our share of heat & humidity. It's usually a bit more up & down, but until the past 3 days I've felt like Cleveland was more humid and KC hotter and it worked out in the wash. This 100+ degree thing has to stop, though.

Although not as common as wintertime SAD, you can have it in the summer. I get it every summer and have now learned things that trigger it and do my best to combat it. The hotter it gets, the more I stay indoors wearing cut offs and old tee-shirts. My kids also tend to stay indoors during that time and that leads to an even grouchier mom after a while. Summer is also a bad time for DH since Chief residents are leaving (and therefore becoming lame ducks) and/or new residents are coming in not knowing what they are doing. Soooo...I see even less of him and become even more lonely. SAD can be caused by many things, tragedy among them...just realize that it will go away and try to recognize the signs in the future and what helps to defray the depression. Good Luck!

Sara