Summertime suppose to be fun and enjoyable for everyone, but for some, summer isn’t quite the funfest it’s cracked up to be. In recent years, it has become noticeable that during summer, more people tend to have issues like depression. In this article, we discussed seven tips for dealing with summer depression.
For some people, summer depression has a biological cause, says Ian A. Cook, MD, the director of the Depression Research Program at UCLA. For others, the particular stresses of summer can pile up and make them feel miserable.
Why do some people feel more depressed in the summer? Here’s a rundown of reasons:
- Summertime SAD (1)
- Disrupted schedules in summer
- Body image issues
- Financial worries
- The heat
If you, your friends, or family members happen to fall into the group of those people who get depressed in the summer, here are some tips that may help you or them to deal with summer depression.
Tips for Dealing with Summer Depression:
1. Plan ahead of the season
You know yourself, you know that when the season of summer approaches, your mood disorder accompanies it. This is one big advantage you have here, the ability to plan before it hits you.
Before it gets hot, think about all the things that will make you bored and anxious in the summer. Could it be the fact that you will be tied up with work and not have time to enjoy a special time with your family?
Or the fact that you have to wear clothes that show more of your skin? Did your ex-left you last summer, making season one associate with sadness? Figure it out. When you do, you can get help and work towards controlling your overall mood when summer finally comes.
2. Keep yourself hydrated
Dehydration is one overlooked issue when it comes to summer depression. It makes matters look worse than it really is, which doesn’t aid the issue of depression in any way.
Don’t wait for the time when you feel thirsty, drink water before then. By the time your body starts giving you the discomfort caused by thirst, your body is already dehydrated, which can negatively affect your mood.
To make sure you are drinking enough water in the summer, fill up your containers with the right amount you should be taking daily. Do this every night; you may distribute them into three or four containers.
Then make sure you finish them before the end of the day when you will have to refill them for the next day. According to a study, when the body doesn’t have enough water, it causes a shortage of amino acids which makes you feel irritable and anxious.
It isn’t hard to drink water, so keep your body hydrated and move one step away from summer depression.
3. Avoid being alone
Spend more time around people, positive people who will lift your mood and make you feel good. This can be a challenge for people who have little confidence in their bodies because summer demands that we expose more flesh.
With respect to that, don’t be afraid to get out there and show your legs, even if you feel they are not as hot as Beyoncé’s. This is all part of getting over depression, stay away from people who will remind you of your imperfections, and chock yourself with those who make you feel special.
If you still aren’t confident enough to flaunt your body outside, stay at home and make a phone call. Have a good laugh and enjoy conversing with friends. When you are alone, your mind wanders to thinks that breeds depression. It gets worse in the summer, so never give in to isolation.
4. Stop worrying
Everyone looks forward to summer with joy, people just can’t wait to go out and get an excellent sunbathing. They plan vacations and seem so excited, but you. You have summer depression and don’t seem to be very happy about it.
This can really make you worry and beat yourself up about being different. But you are not alone, there are many of us out there who just happen to be this way, and we can equally enjoy summer if we stop worrying about it!
5. Don’t drink Coke or any other diet soda
We can all relate to the powerful urge to drink coke when the weather is hot, it can be so refreshing. But if you are one of those who has summer depression, the harm may be more the temporary refreshment you get from diet soda.
It has been confirmed by research, that some ingredients in diet soda can worsen the symptoms of mood disorder in people that have depression. As for those who have never had such a problem, they are safe to drink soda in the summer.
6. Don’t underestimate the benefits of sleeping
Well, to sleep well you need to have a clear mind, so the previous step is important for this one to work. Stop worrying about being depressed!
Now, with all the activities you will have in line for the summer, don’t let your sleep get shortened. If anything, increase the time you spend on your dear bed.
When you deprive yourself of quality sleep, you may feel you are killing depression by being overly active, but that’s not true, lack of sleep actually worsens depression. It is a well-known trigger. To plan wisely and know how to equate crazy fun with early nights.
Related: 15 Scientific Ways to Fall Asleep Faster
7. Work out to deal with summer depression
In the mornings, the weather is not so hot yet, so it is a good time to work out. The evenings are not so hot as well, so you can always exercise in the early morning or late evening hours.
Exercise is a well-known remedy for depression and other mental health problems. Keep exercising, even if the weather is hot and not encouraging. It’s just about working your way throughout the day. If you worry about doing it alone, get a friend to join you or register at a gym.
If you are on the lazy side, a really cool way to exercise is to take long walks around the neighborhood in the mornings or cool evenings. This works better if you’re going with a friend or your spouse.
If you don’t want to join a gym, good videos can be found on YouTube. You can watch them and imitate those basic workout sessions. This will surely reduce your summer depression.
When it comes to weather and mood, there are those who are unaffected and those whose health is either positively or negatively affected. A handful of people who have been diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder always suffer when the weather is hot.
This is understandable…extreme summer heat can be a true discomfort! So, we hope our seven uplifting healthy summer activities suggestions will help those people.
