If summer sun gets you down you may be suffering from reverse SAD - here's how to beat it
ok.co.ukSeasonal affective disorder, better known by its highly suitable acronym SAD, is a mental health condition that tends to hit in autumn/winter and is linked to a lack of sunlight.
However, 35% of sufferers have summer depression. “Reverse SAD, or summer SAD, is similar in its symptoms and cycle,” explains clinical psychotherapist Tania Taylor. “But the onset is felt in spring instead of autumn.Those with winter SAD feel inclined to overeat and gain weight, whereas summer SAD sufferers usually lose their appetite and lose weight unintentionally.” Telltale signs “Struggling with sleep and feeling lethargic and irritable in the heat can be signs of summer SAD,” says Tania, author of Sparkling Moments – 30 Days Of Amazing.
Another sign is feeling socially anxious in a way you never do in the winter months. “If every spring/summer you feel low in mood and yet in autumn you start to come back out of your shell, it could be seasonal depression.
It can make you feel guilty and unworthy.” What causes it? Warmer weather often means more socialising. Great? Not if you have summer SAD. “These social pressures can feel difficult to manage,” says Dr Marianne Trent, a clinical psychologist and host of The Aspiring Psychologist podcast.
Read more on ok.co.uk
