Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder: What It Is & What Can Be Done

For many, summer is a time of making the most of the outdoors, celebrations and socialising. For others, it can be a difficult time, bringing poor mood, little interest in interacting, and poor sleeping and eating.

Seasonal affective disorder, (SAD), affects more people in the UK during winter months, with symptoms reducing as the seasons become warmer. However, some people find their mood is impacted by the warmer summer months, and only becomes better once the weather turns cooler – known as ‘summer SAD’ or ‘reverse SAD’.

Google Trends shows a recent uplift in online searches around ‘summer depression’, indicating that many are struggling with their mood this summer – but they may not realise that it could be connected to a recognised condition.

Summer SAD shares many symptoms to depression and winter SAD – with the key being that the symptoms begin as it gets warmer, and stop once the seasons become cooler and darker.  

Belle About Town spoke to Dr Robin Clark, Medical Director at Bupa UK, to delve deeper into this little-known condition…

Symptoms of summer SAD

These are some of the main symptoms across those who suffer, but they can vary between individuals:

• Losing interest in activities that you usually enjoy.
• Feeling more irritable, angrier, anxious or stressed than usual.
• Finding it hard to concentrate.
• Feeling achy for no clear reason.
• A persistent low mood.
• Feelings of despair and sadness.
• Reduced sex drive.
• Little self-esteem.
• Changes in your weight and appetite.
• No energy and struggling to sleep.
• Turning to harmful mechanisms for comfort, e.g., drugs or alcohol.

Differences between summer SAD and winter SAD:

• Summer SAD is more likely to result in too little sleep, rather than too much.
• It’s thought that summer SAD is exacerbated by heat and humidity, whereas winter SAD is linked to a lack of light and shorter days.
• Seasonal allergies are thoughts to be a potential trigger for summer SAD.

Ways to combat reverse SAD

If you’re struggling with your mood, book an appointment to see a health professional. They’ll discuss your symptoms to see if there are any patterns in how you’re feeling to make an appropriate diagnosis.

If you’re diagnosed with summer seasonal affective disorder, your doctor may suggest treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or antidepressants. If you’re finding sleep difficult, focusing on ways to help reset your circadian rhythm can be useful – a health professional can give more information. Changing your sleeping patterns to align with when it’s dark may help, too.

Self-help measures for reverse SAD

Make sure you’re regularly exercising – this is a natural way to boost your body’s feelgood hormones, especially if you find a way to move that you enjoy. From walking the dog to a gentle swim, find ways that work for you to try and reach the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise in over the course of the week.   

Reaching out to friends in whatever way you’re able can make a big difference to your mood. Aim to keep regular contact with friends and join social activities, even if you don’t feel like it. From a coffee catchup to making new friends at clubs, it can all go towards making you feel more connected.

Try to eat small, healthy meals every day. A balanced diet will help to maintain your energy levels and keep your mood more stable.