The days are getting longer...
March 1, 2021 9:23 AM Subscribe
... And I'm starting to feel my reverse SAD kick into gear. What are some strategies to deal with seasonal affective disorder brought on by hot weather?
Autumn and winter are my best times - I feel energised and alive and grateful to be alive. But I always find them too short.
I hate summer with a passion, especially summer in the UK. While it's generally not long or hot, the brighter longer days give me an anxiety reaction, and when it does get actually hot, I am miserable.
But while a lot of my issues stem from physical discomfort - e.g. being too hot, losing my appetite, disrupted sleep cycle, allergies - those can be dealt with. I.e. I can wear cooler clothes, step up my bedtime hygiene, manage my allergies etc. What I find very difficult to deal with are the emotional problems I experience at this time. Seeking strategies to help me deal with:
1. Anxiety - something about hot days, bright sunshine etc, makes me feel anxious. Doesn't help that at least three difficult events in my life happened in high summer. I don't know what it is, really - something about the light? All I know is that blue skies and bright sunshine trip a weird anxiety reaction inside me. It feels very visceral.
2. FOMO - Although I am a very extroverted person, I dislike summer socialising, largely because I do not like the outdoors/nature, but most social events tend to take place in the outdoors when the weather is sunny. It just isn't my comfort zone. I also struggle with my body image, especially in the hot weather - I find it easier to hide my body in cold weather, plus I love cold weather accessories. So I don't participate in social stuff as much in the summer, but then I feel left out and lonely. (Social stuff is going to be a bit of a moot point this summer as I doubt people will be socialising as frenetically as they normally do, but this is a factor in my emotional wellbeing that has cropped up year after year, and it's reasonable to assume it may well again in the future.)
3. Loneliness/resentment - I find it so hard knowing that most people around me are super happy and energised, when my own energy levels bottom out in the hot weather and I just want to hibernate. I feel resentful that everyone else is happy, especially when they laugh at me for disliking the summer - I feel like everyone recognises that SAD is a thing but not that you can feel depressed in summer.
I feel like this has come out as a whine, but I would be really interested in strategies to deal with the feelings I get around this time. I know that they make SAD lamps for people who get winter depression, melatonin etc gets prescribed. It is treated as a legitimate complaint for which remedies and products are available. Are there comparable strategies/products etc for reverse SAD?
Autumn and winter are my best times - I feel energised and alive and grateful to be alive. But I always find them too short.
I hate summer with a passion, especially summer in the UK. While it's generally not long or hot, the brighter longer days give me an anxiety reaction, and when it does get actually hot, I am miserable.
But while a lot of my issues stem from physical discomfort - e.g. being too hot, losing my appetite, disrupted sleep cycle, allergies - those can be dealt with. I.e. I can wear cooler clothes, step up my bedtime hygiene, manage my allergies etc. What I find very difficult to deal with are the emotional problems I experience at this time. Seeking strategies to help me deal with:
1. Anxiety - something about hot days, bright sunshine etc, makes me feel anxious. Doesn't help that at least three difficult events in my life happened in high summer. I don't know what it is, really - something about the light? All I know is that blue skies and bright sunshine trip a weird anxiety reaction inside me. It feels very visceral.
2. FOMO - Although I am a very extroverted person, I dislike summer socialising, largely because I do not like the outdoors/nature, but most social events tend to take place in the outdoors when the weather is sunny. It just isn't my comfort zone. I also struggle with my body image, especially in the hot weather - I find it easier to hide my body in cold weather, plus I love cold weather accessories. So I don't participate in social stuff as much in the summer, but then I feel left out and lonely. (Social stuff is going to be a bit of a moot point this summer as I doubt people will be socialising as frenetically as they normally do, but this is a factor in my emotional wellbeing that has cropped up year after year, and it's reasonable to assume it may well again in the future.)
3. Loneliness/resentment - I find it so hard knowing that most people around me are super happy and energised, when my own energy levels bottom out in the hot weather and I just want to hibernate. I feel resentful that everyone else is happy, especially when they laugh at me for disliking the summer - I feel like everyone recognises that SAD is a thing but not that you can feel depressed in summer.
I feel like this has come out as a whine, but I would be really interested in strategies to deal with the feelings I get around this time. I know that they make SAD lamps for people who get winter depression, melatonin etc gets prescribed. It is treated as a legitimate complaint for which remedies and products are available. Are there comparable strategies/products etc for reverse SAD?
Fascinating.
One, people theorize that sunlight-onto-skin is a driver of SAD. Is it possible that in warmer weather, you actually get LESS sun exposure than in the winter? I'm not sure how weather is in UK, but I've heard of the concept of societal depression being related to the use of SPF sunscreen and avoiding all sun exposure. I don't believe the connection, but at the same time, do you get some incidental sun exposure in the summer?
Two, I can think of a few hobbies of those that like to be social, but aren't particularly sunny. Dungeons and dragons and board games are often when I go into my basement and play with friends, ignoring the good (or bad) weather outside.
Third, have you been tested for thyroid and vitamin D levels in your blood?
Fourth, In my area, people tend to do indoor activities in the summer to "beat the heat". Things like going to a movie, or other indoor activities with air conditioning. I often feel just as exhausted as you in spring and fall when the weather is good. Part of it is that being outside is just exhausting - all that oxygen, the bugs, the exercise, everything. It's never more comfortable than being inside.
Last, what I would recommend is to find an activity that you really enjoy doing outdoors. Very few people are comfortable enough in their bodies to wear a swimsuit or exercise around their peers, but many like things that are casual, like playing disc golf, or miniature golf, or kubb, or grilling and having cookouts. Could you find a hobby that you enjoy outdoors that doesn't involve the issues that you mention in #2 above?
posted by bbqturtle at 10:20 AM on March 1, 2021
One, people theorize that sunlight-onto-skin is a driver of SAD. Is it possible that in warmer weather, you actually get LESS sun exposure than in the winter? I'm not sure how weather is in UK, but I've heard of the concept of societal depression being related to the use of SPF sunscreen and avoiding all sun exposure. I don't believe the connection, but at the same time, do you get some incidental sun exposure in the summer?
Two, I can think of a few hobbies of those that like to be social, but aren't particularly sunny. Dungeons and dragons and board games are often when I go into my basement and play with friends, ignoring the good (or bad) weather outside.
Third, have you been tested for thyroid and vitamin D levels in your blood?
Fourth, In my area, people tend to do indoor activities in the summer to "beat the heat". Things like going to a movie, or other indoor activities with air conditioning. I often feel just as exhausted as you in spring and fall when the weather is good. Part of it is that being outside is just exhausting - all that oxygen, the bugs, the exercise, everything. It's never more comfortable than being inside.
Last, what I would recommend is to find an activity that you really enjoy doing outdoors. Very few people are comfortable enough in their bodies to wear a swimsuit or exercise around their peers, but many like things that are casual, like playing disc golf, or miniature golf, or kubb, or grilling and having cookouts. Could you find a hobby that you enjoy outdoors that doesn't involve the issues that you mention in #2 above?
posted by bbqturtle at 10:20 AM on March 1, 2021
I have a long term internet friend who has reverse SAD and he describes it in very similar ways to you, with the brightness causing anxiety, the discomfort about emotional mismatches between him and summer happy people, body image issues with limited clothing choices, dislike for the outdoors.
Notably, he’s trans. I’ve known him since pre-transition and apparently the difference in summertime comfort between gender presentations is palpable. Like, obviously you are a different person with your own personal gender situation, but addressing underlying sources of year-round physical anxiety you might have could help you cope with this seasonal challenge, you know? Maybe something as straightforward as looking into how different cultures dress for hot weather for inspiration - I love to wear lightweight ankle length cotton skirts in summer, which keep my legs shaded but with plenty of airflow, and flowy tops with sleeves which lets me wear less constrictive bras and less sunscreen, for example. Accessories come in the form of cute purses and different hair accessories, because I want to keep it up off my neck. Apparently my friend has found summertime comfort through linen pants. If you can take steps to be more confident with your body and appearance in warm weather, it could help with the social anxiety concerns too.
For the brightness, have you thought about sunglasses? Maybe that’s silly and you already wear them, but I’m a glasses wearer and prescriptions sunglasses are an indulgence I can rarely afford. If I had your version of SAD, though, I’d totally consider them a medical assistive device. Also maybe blackout curtains for your bedroom to make a place for you to retreat to, and keep dawn out. Basically, reverse-sad-lamp your space and face.
posted by Mizu at 10:24 AM on March 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
Notably, he’s trans. I’ve known him since pre-transition and apparently the difference in summertime comfort between gender presentations is palpable. Like, obviously you are a different person with your own personal gender situation, but addressing underlying sources of year-round physical anxiety you might have could help you cope with this seasonal challenge, you know? Maybe something as straightforward as looking into how different cultures dress for hot weather for inspiration - I love to wear lightweight ankle length cotton skirts in summer, which keep my legs shaded but with plenty of airflow, and flowy tops with sleeves which lets me wear less constrictive bras and less sunscreen, for example. Accessories come in the form of cute purses and different hair accessories, because I want to keep it up off my neck. Apparently my friend has found summertime comfort through linen pants. If you can take steps to be more confident with your body and appearance in warm weather, it could help with the social anxiety concerns too.
For the brightness, have you thought about sunglasses? Maybe that’s silly and you already wear them, but I’m a glasses wearer and prescriptions sunglasses are an indulgence I can rarely afford. If I had your version of SAD, though, I’d totally consider them a medical assistive device. Also maybe blackout curtains for your bedroom to make a place for you to retreat to, and keep dawn out. Basically, reverse-sad-lamp your space and face.
posted by Mizu at 10:24 AM on March 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
I experience summer as you do and I'm also feeling some anxiety as winter is ending. I don't have all the answers but here are some things that help me:
-- Making sure that I support myself by acknowledging that this is a real thing and I'm not making it up
-- Installing light blocking shades and curtains everywhere in my house
-- Figuring out ways to keep my house cool
-- Being upfront with friends about how I feel and just not dealing with those that push back or make fun of me
-- Making lists of things I do enjoy about the season (for example: fruit and watching plants grow)
-- Promising myself that I will absolutely not force myself to do summer activities that will make me miserable
Good luck! I promise you are not alone in this.
posted by mcduff at 11:45 AM on March 1, 2021 [7 favorites]
-- Making sure that I support myself by acknowledging that this is a real thing and I'm not making it up
-- Installing light blocking shades and curtains everywhere in my house
-- Figuring out ways to keep my house cool
-- Being upfront with friends about how I feel and just not dealing with those that push back or make fun of me
-- Making lists of things I do enjoy about the season (for example: fruit and watching plants grow)
-- Promising myself that I will absolutely not force myself to do summer activities that will make me miserable
Good luck! I promise you are not alone in this.
posted by mcduff at 11:45 AM on March 1, 2021 [7 favorites]
My best advice is to make your home a retreat. Then you're not thinking "only 3 more months of summer," you're thinking "only an hour until I can go home." We call our house "our cave," because it's cool and dark and safe when Outside is too much. Blackout curtains, as mentioned, hard floors, fans and a jug of your favorite cold drink in the fridge. Mizu is right about linen clothes.
posted by entropyiswinning at 11:55 AM on March 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by entropyiswinning at 11:55 AM on March 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
Following this because I too am a summer-SAD sufferer, and really really dreading this next season. I don't have tons of tips but can agree that a lot of the "how to cheer yourself up in winter" stuff can be reversed.
-Plan as much as possible for late evenings; I infinitely prefer doing stuff in the dusk/dark hours, so I just...do. This can be harder if you're not in a city where things are open late, but I'm a huge fan of the 10pm grocery run, for example, or meeting my friends for a nightcap on a patio somewhere after they've done all their (EXCRUCIATING) day drinking at the beach.
-Just as they say to turn lights on in winter or light candles, make a point of shutting curtains and blinds at the hour when you start to prefer darkness.
-Definitely trying to remember that there are a couple of things to prefer about summer (in my case, my favorite fruits come into season) that I will actually be sad to see go at the end.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 12:16 PM on March 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
-Plan as much as possible for late evenings; I infinitely prefer doing stuff in the dusk/dark hours, so I just...do. This can be harder if you're not in a city where things are open late, but I'm a huge fan of the 10pm grocery run, for example, or meeting my friends for a nightcap on a patio somewhere after they've done all their (EXCRUCIATING) day drinking at the beach.
-Just as they say to turn lights on in winter or light candles, make a point of shutting curtains and blinds at the hour when you start to prefer darkness.
-Definitely trying to remember that there are a couple of things to prefer about summer (in my case, my favorite fruits come into season) that I will actually be sad to see go at the end.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 12:16 PM on March 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
(Also, at some point I just reached like an event horizon of being too hot that overcame my dread of exposing skin. It was just, like...immersion therapy or something, 100+ degrees for 3 weeks with no A/C to speak of, and at the end of it I just could not give a single solitary shit about how I looked wearing shorts or tank tops into the world, and I still don't. YMMV of course.)
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 12:19 PM on March 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 12:19 PM on March 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
I could have written this entire Ask. I fucking hate the summer. Hate. Deep hatred. I hate bright sunlight, I hate being wet. And as you note, almost as bad as the summer itself is that all the Summer People (i.e., most people) treat people like us like freaks because we hate the fucking summer. It's like we said "I don't like fun" or something. And that actually makes it worse, like we're out of step with humanity or something.
What has worked for me is, believe it or not, leaning into it. While everyone professes to LURVE the summer, there is a small percentage of the population (a little less than one percent, I seem to recall reading) who does suffer from reverse seasonal affective disorder. I've found that being open about hating it often causes one or two comrades to raise their hands and say "Hey! I don't like summer either!" At least that way, I don't feel like I'm hiding some shameful secret. And it's now gotten to the point where my friends are aware of it and make (friendly) jokes about it, which is a lot better.
Blackout blinds are also helpful, as is, believe it or not, watching films and reading books about Scandinavia. Truly. For example, the movie "Insomnia," with Al Pacino, really captures how oppressive long daylight can be, and again, makes me feel like I'm not just weird. And if at all possible, if you don't have central air, at least have one AC window unit in your home, so that you can get out of the oppressive heat. I used to try to tough it out with fans, and it made me even more miserable; having an actual AC until improved my quality of life immensely.
posted by holborne at 12:23 PM on March 1, 2021 [7 favorites]
What has worked for me is, believe it or not, leaning into it. While everyone professes to LURVE the summer, there is a small percentage of the population (a little less than one percent, I seem to recall reading) who does suffer from reverse seasonal affective disorder. I've found that being open about hating it often causes one or two comrades to raise their hands and say "Hey! I don't like summer either!" At least that way, I don't feel like I'm hiding some shameful secret. And it's now gotten to the point where my friends are aware of it and make (friendly) jokes about it, which is a lot better.
Blackout blinds are also helpful, as is, believe it or not, watching films and reading books about Scandinavia. Truly. For example, the movie "Insomnia," with Al Pacino, really captures how oppressive long daylight can be, and again, makes me feel like I'm not just weird. And if at all possible, if you don't have central air, at least have one AC window unit in your home, so that you can get out of the oppressive heat. I used to try to tough it out with fans, and it made me even more miserable; having an actual AC until improved my quality of life immensely.
posted by holborne at 12:23 PM on March 1, 2021 [7 favorites]
Sunlight increases serotonin production; maybe you're sensitive to that change? (Overheating, sweating, sleep issues, anxiety, and nausea are linked to higher serotonin.) Perhaps your 'winter baseline' for this neurotransmitter is the right level for you?
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:39 PM on March 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:39 PM on March 1, 2021 [2 favorites]
I also hate spring and summer. I hate the sun beating down on my head and the heat and the bugs and the body-shaming of people my size for wearing normal summer clothing. (I want a sign that says "Yes, I am a big middle-aged woman wearing a sleeveless top. Get over it!")
One thing that's helped me is having a vegetable garden. True, I can only work in it in the early evening or first thing in the morning. But homegrown lettuce and tomatoes are so delicious. I don't know where you live, but if you've got some outdoor space that gets full sun, try growing a plant or two in a container.
posted by tuesdayschild at 12:53 PM on March 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
One thing that's helped me is having a vegetable garden. True, I can only work in it in the early evening or first thing in the morning. But homegrown lettuce and tomatoes are so delicious. I don't know where you live, but if you've got some outdoor space that gets full sun, try growing a plant or two in a container.
posted by tuesdayschild at 12:53 PM on March 1, 2021 [1 favorite]
OP, you mention managing your warm-weather allergies; if the serotonin-level idea interests you, speak with your doctor about Periactin (cyproheptadine), an antihistamine with serotonin receptor blocking activity. (In higher doses, cyproheptadine counteracts mild-to-moderate drug-induced serotonin syndrome, and I wonder if the standard dose to combat allergies would help in this situation.)
posted by Iris Gambol at 3:22 PM on March 1, 2021
posted by Iris Gambol at 3:22 PM on March 1, 2021
Just wanted to say that I'm another summer SAD person. I plan on putting my blackout curtains up again. I always spring for transition lenses for my glasses because sunglasses help some.
posted by kathrynm at 4:52 PM on March 1, 2021
posted by kathrynm at 4:52 PM on March 1, 2021
I hate summer as well. I haven't experienced a summer depression in years, thanks to bupropion most likely, but I still find the heat and blaring sun to be miserable.
In addition to what others have said about making your home (or a room in your home) into a cool, dark retreat, I also go out into the world prepared. Sunglasses (I personally don't like to wear them all the time, but I have friends who wear them every minute they are outdoors.) But also a sun hat... you want something with a wide brim so you're basically equipped with portable shade. If you like accessories maybe you can adopt a sun hat for your summer look, like Alexis Rose or Crocodile Dundee. I also always carry something to fan myself with. You can get a proper folding fan, or if that seems too precious just carry some folded papers that you can casually pull out of your bag and fan yourself with. In the before times I used to keep an old church bulletin in my purse to create a little artificial air movement when needed.
Also, a fold up windshield shade for your parked car is great to create a darkened, cool place to retreat to if you need a break from whatever ("cool" being dependent on your vehicle having air conditioning, obviously.) For years I have napped in my car on my lunch break at the office, and I shade my windshield as well as hanging blankets over my side windows so I can lie there and relax in the cool semi-dark.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 5:19 PM on March 1, 2021
In addition to what others have said about making your home (or a room in your home) into a cool, dark retreat, I also go out into the world prepared. Sunglasses (I personally don't like to wear them all the time, but I have friends who wear them every minute they are outdoors.) But also a sun hat... you want something with a wide brim so you're basically equipped with portable shade. If you like accessories maybe you can adopt a sun hat for your summer look, like Alexis Rose or Crocodile Dundee. I also always carry something to fan myself with. You can get a proper folding fan, or if that seems too precious just carry some folded papers that you can casually pull out of your bag and fan yourself with. In the before times I used to keep an old church bulletin in my purse to create a little artificial air movement when needed.
Also, a fold up windshield shade for your parked car is great to create a darkened, cool place to retreat to if you need a break from whatever ("cool" being dependent on your vehicle having air conditioning, obviously.) For years I have napped in my car on my lunch break at the office, and I shade my windshield as well as hanging blankets over my side windows so I can lie there and relax in the cool semi-dark.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 5:19 PM on March 1, 2021
I have always felt similarly. I also refer to high summer as my "hibernation season," and not only do I stay home more (and use the many good tips already shared, like heavy curtains during midday, forgiving myself for running constant air conditioning and fans, etc.) but I also give myself permission to do less even inside. Even in an air-conditioned apartment, it feels like the summer heat zaps my brain and my will. I do the bare minimum of everything and subsist wholly on cold/uncooked food.
Additionally, when I am outside in summer sun I give myself permission for every accommodation. I wear wide-brimmed hats. I wear no sleeves and flowy maxi-skirts, because that's what's most comfortable to me. I drink a truly ridiculous quantity of ice water. I use a hand fan and carry a parasol. I wear giant prescription sunglasses. And, like when I'm at home, I slow my roll—I stroll leisurely, and try not to do anything remotely "active" outdoors.
It sounds like the root of some of your seasonal SAD might be as much about anxiety regarding taking the accommodations you need as it is about the season itself. I hope the chorus of people here sharing what they do might help normalize it, even if you feel like it's weird. I was honestly never able to feel fully comfortable outside in summer until I moved to Los Angeles (ironic!), a place where it gets SO bright and SO hot that people have to take protective measures and no one thinks it's strange. (I bring these accommodations back east with me on trips and now boggle at the extent to which East Coasters just stoically endure the heat and sun when parasols and skirts and fans are right there.)
I also wonder, given the visceral description of your response to bright light, if there also might not be something additional going on; for instance, when I finally got diagnosed with visual migraines, I realized that the head-swimmy, disassociative feeling I often got in summer was actually part of a migraine response to the bright sunshine and, in particular, to the way that light reflected and flashed off windows, cars, sunglasses, etc. There are also other medical conditions that make one extra sensitive to different sensations—if there's a possibility something like that is in play, seeking treatment for the underlying cause could help you across the board.
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 5:55 PM on March 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
Additionally, when I am outside in summer sun I give myself permission for every accommodation. I wear wide-brimmed hats. I wear no sleeves and flowy maxi-skirts, because that's what's most comfortable to me. I drink a truly ridiculous quantity of ice water. I use a hand fan and carry a parasol. I wear giant prescription sunglasses. And, like when I'm at home, I slow my roll—I stroll leisurely, and try not to do anything remotely "active" outdoors.
It sounds like the root of some of your seasonal SAD might be as much about anxiety regarding taking the accommodations you need as it is about the season itself. I hope the chorus of people here sharing what they do might help normalize it, even if you feel like it's weird. I was honestly never able to feel fully comfortable outside in summer until I moved to Los Angeles (ironic!), a place where it gets SO bright and SO hot that people have to take protective measures and no one thinks it's strange. (I bring these accommodations back east with me on trips and now boggle at the extent to which East Coasters just stoically endure the heat and sun when parasols and skirts and fans are right there.)
I also wonder, given the visceral description of your response to bright light, if there also might not be something additional going on; for instance, when I finally got diagnosed with visual migraines, I realized that the head-swimmy, disassociative feeling I often got in summer was actually part of a migraine response to the bright sunshine and, in particular, to the way that light reflected and flashed off windows, cars, sunglasses, etc. There are also other medical conditions that make one extra sensitive to different sensations—if there's a possibility something like that is in play, seeking treatment for the underlying cause could help you across the board.
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 5:55 PM on March 1, 2021 [3 favorites]
I endured summer 2019 in Denver Colorado which is ludicrously sunny only by making "the parasol" my thing. Pretty umbrellas all the way.
I also love scarves and cardigans but swap them out for necklaces, big earrings, hairclips, hand fans and my pretty light colored umbrellas in summer.
I'm also on team cold foods-- never turn on the oven when it's hot out.
posted by travertina at 7:59 PM on March 1, 2021
I also love scarves and cardigans but swap them out for necklaces, big earrings, hairclips, hand fans and my pretty light colored umbrellas in summer.
I'm also on team cold foods-- never turn on the oven when it's hot out.
posted by travertina at 7:59 PM on March 1, 2021
I had two friends who were reverse SAD. I've lost touch with both, but both were charming people. One cried when spring came because she couldn't wear her coat, and I felt immediately sad, too, because of course. She had been so happy when she got that coat in the fall. It was huge and warm and fluffy, and now she had to pack it away out of sight. The other did this amazing thing... I will always remember. We were housemates. One day in the dead of summer at about noon with the sun absolutely blazing outside she called me into the living room. She had closed all the blinds and the curtains on top of them and turned on the two window-unit ACs full blast and put fluffy comforters and pillows on the two sofas. She lay down on one and I lay down on the other and we pulled the fluffy blankets up around us and napped together in the freezing chill.
I guess what I am saying is, don't be so sure the sunworshipping normies will not understand you. I was born in the spring and summer is my favorite season, but if you say you are brokenhearted because you have to put your coat away, I feel you. If you invite me to nap in some delightful cold gloom you made for us in the middle of white hot August, I will remember you fondly all my life.
posted by Don Pepino at 8:16 PM on March 1, 2021 [6 favorites]
I guess what I am saying is, don't be so sure the sunworshipping normies will not understand you. I was born in the spring and summer is my favorite season, but if you say you are brokenhearted because you have to put your coat away, I feel you. If you invite me to nap in some delightful cold gloom you made for us in the middle of white hot August, I will remember you fondly all my life.
posted by Don Pepino at 8:16 PM on March 1, 2021 [6 favorites]
I had another idea:
Can you move your schedule so that you're sleeping during sunlight hours and awake during dark ones?
Caveat: I don't have SAD or reverse SAD, and I know this may not be practical, I just thought of it last night as I was falling asleep.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 5:38 AM on March 2, 2021
Can you move your schedule so that you're sleeping during sunlight hours and awake during dark ones?
Caveat: I don't have SAD or reverse SAD, and I know this may not be practical, I just thought of it last night as I was falling asleep.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 5:38 AM on March 2, 2021
Wow, I feel you on almost all of this, right down to the bad-things association and the resentment. It was especially bad when I was on an academic schedule, summer always felt like everything ground to a sticky halt, I couldn't wait for the fall when things came back to life. The thing is for me, I don't really want to hate summer, I can understand why other people enjoy it, it's just so goddamn uncomfortable.
I've gotten a lot better at doing summer these days. Dumb as it sounds, it was mostly getting over the anticipation of misery, accepting how awful it is, preparing as best as I can, and then just getting on with it. I'm armed with bug spray from April-Sept, I've mentally accepted that I'm just gonna have to shower multiple times a day. This happened sort of unconsciously, I have a very gregarious partner who will give me that extra nudge when I'm wavering on whether to go out, and once I'm out I usually end up having a good time. Then because I'm out enjoying myself a little more, I don't feel bad when I do decide to stay in with the A/C cranked up (which is still often the case). Time has helped too, with getting away from the difficult events I associated with summer, and also just knowing myself and what I need better. Getting to the root cause of the misery (for me, mostly physical discomfort, for you, maybe anxiety/body image?) made it easier to own my needs and choices and not get resentful of other people for my decisions.
posted by yeahlikethat at 4:35 PM on March 2, 2021
I've gotten a lot better at doing summer these days. Dumb as it sounds, it was mostly getting over the anticipation of misery, accepting how awful it is, preparing as best as I can, and then just getting on with it. I'm armed with bug spray from April-Sept, I've mentally accepted that I'm just gonna have to shower multiple times a day. This happened sort of unconsciously, I have a very gregarious partner who will give me that extra nudge when I'm wavering on whether to go out, and once I'm out I usually end up having a good time. Then because I'm out enjoying myself a little more, I don't feel bad when I do decide to stay in with the A/C cranked up (which is still often the case). Time has helped too, with getting away from the difficult events I associated with summer, and also just knowing myself and what I need better. Getting to the root cause of the misery (for me, mostly physical discomfort, for you, maybe anxiety/body image?) made it easier to own my needs and choices and not get resentful of other people for my decisions.
posted by yeahlikethat at 4:35 PM on March 2, 2021
Summer SAD sufferer in the UK as well. I think people in the continental US (which is below the 49th parallel) may not quite understand what it's like to live in a place at 52°N or higher, where the sun literally goes down for only a couple of hours each night around the summer solstice.
For starters, I'd like to second all the blackout options. I know they're famous for use in the arctic circle, but they're really important for anyone in an area where it stays light after 11pm. And don't just treat your bedroom, but any room you spend a lot of time in at night. Are you someone who hangs out in your kitchen noodling online for a couple hours? Then make sure you can black out your kitchen, too.
I also found all of the time-based screen colour changing tools helped me as well. In summer, the ones that simply desaturate the screen seem to help better than the pinkifying ones, and I also found that switching some of my pleasant "warm white" bulbs to hideous garish "cold white" was helpful as well. I guess I just don't want to be reminded of cozy warm fires when it's unpleasantly hot inside.
As for mood and heat, I found that one thing that absolutely changed my relationship to summer was cycling. Now, I don't mean the razor-thin wheeled lycra-and-wraparound-shades type of cycling, but just pootling around slowly on an old-fashioned upright bike with a big friendly basket in the front for my shopping. Cycling is less effort than walking, and even modest speeds make for an excellent wind effect to make sure you don't cruft up with sweat (like you would even just sitting around doing nothing on a hot day).
I'm a former ginger, so I have to deal with sun exposure. I found that Wilko make an excellent and extremely inexpensive moisturiser with SPF30-50. I find that "moisturiser with SPF effect" always lasts longer on my skin than "sunblock designed not to sweat off" for some reason.
Finally, I've had to learn the hard way that loose baggy clothing isn't always cooler than skin-tight stuff. I'm a big lad, so I have had to come to terms with the fact that my "base layer" should be something close to the skin that wicks the sweat away from problem spots and allows it to spread out to evaporate and cool me off. I started with synthetic stuff from M&S and have since discovered the weird paradox that is merino wool (sheep that travel between hot and cold areas in the Italian Alps have amazing soft wool for any weather) since.
So that's how I deal with light and heat. For bugs (the third horseman of the summerpocalypse) I tend to buy "nosilife" bug-repelling camping shirts to wear in the summer. These I do wear baggy (over a thin tight tee), and they have clever vents in them that make them suitable for changing weather, because when you put a jacket over them they provide layers without venting.
But all of these more material coping strategies aside, the biggest thing was just to finally convince friends and family that yes, I'm going to be irritable and sensitive and subject to swinging moods in the summer. It's not personal, and I just need time to get past some of it and rejoin things when I'm ready. No, don't invite me to BBQs, because you know I'll spend the whole time swatting wasps and grumbling about why people pick the hottest day of the year to start big hot fires. Yes, let's go for a walk down by the river where the breeze is picking up, but don't shout at me because I'm late looking for where I left my wide-brimmed hat.
Cycling in groups (again, slowly, chatting and exploring rather than racing) helped me get over my outdoor summer socialising blocks, but there are loads of other pastimes that mitigate the sun rather than celebrate them and it's worth seeking them out.
But it's OK. You can get an air conditioner. Even a terrible "portable" one!
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 1:50 AM on March 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
For starters, I'd like to second all the blackout options. I know they're famous for use in the arctic circle, but they're really important for anyone in an area where it stays light after 11pm. And don't just treat your bedroom, but any room you spend a lot of time in at night. Are you someone who hangs out in your kitchen noodling online for a couple hours? Then make sure you can black out your kitchen, too.
I also found all of the time-based screen colour changing tools helped me as well. In summer, the ones that simply desaturate the screen seem to help better than the pinkifying ones, and I also found that switching some of my pleasant "warm white" bulbs to hideous garish "cold white" was helpful as well. I guess I just don't want to be reminded of cozy warm fires when it's unpleasantly hot inside.
As for mood and heat, I found that one thing that absolutely changed my relationship to summer was cycling. Now, I don't mean the razor-thin wheeled lycra-and-wraparound-shades type of cycling, but just pootling around slowly on an old-fashioned upright bike with a big friendly basket in the front for my shopping. Cycling is less effort than walking, and even modest speeds make for an excellent wind effect to make sure you don't cruft up with sweat (like you would even just sitting around doing nothing on a hot day).
I'm a former ginger, so I have to deal with sun exposure. I found that Wilko make an excellent and extremely inexpensive moisturiser with SPF30-50. I find that "moisturiser with SPF effect" always lasts longer on my skin than "sunblock designed not to sweat off" for some reason.
Finally, I've had to learn the hard way that loose baggy clothing isn't always cooler than skin-tight stuff. I'm a big lad, so I have had to come to terms with the fact that my "base layer" should be something close to the skin that wicks the sweat away from problem spots and allows it to spread out to evaporate and cool me off. I started with synthetic stuff from M&S and have since discovered the weird paradox that is merino wool (sheep that travel between hot and cold areas in the Italian Alps have amazing soft wool for any weather) since.
So that's how I deal with light and heat. For bugs (the third horseman of the summerpocalypse) I tend to buy "nosilife" bug-repelling camping shirts to wear in the summer. These I do wear baggy (over a thin tight tee), and they have clever vents in them that make them suitable for changing weather, because when you put a jacket over them they provide layers without venting.
But all of these more material coping strategies aside, the biggest thing was just to finally convince friends and family that yes, I'm going to be irritable and sensitive and subject to swinging moods in the summer. It's not personal, and I just need time to get past some of it and rejoin things when I'm ready. No, don't invite me to BBQs, because you know I'll spend the whole time swatting wasps and grumbling about why people pick the hottest day of the year to start big hot fires. Yes, let's go for a walk down by the river where the breeze is picking up, but don't shout at me because I'm late looking for where I left my wide-brimmed hat.
Cycling in groups (again, slowly, chatting and exploring rather than racing) helped me get over my outdoor summer socialising blocks, but there are loads of other pastimes that mitigate the sun rather than celebrate them and it's worth seeking them out.
But it's OK. You can get an air conditioner. Even a terrible "portable" one!
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 1:50 AM on March 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 10:14 AM on March 1, 2021 [3 favorites]