Submitted by Bedford Youth and Family Services
Summer. Hot, sunny days and warm, humid nights. Vacations to destinations far and near. Sleeveless tops, shorts, and swimsuits. Barbecues, pool parties, and cookouts with family and friends. Long days dedicated to fun and relaxation. The summer is relentlessly romanticized as a time for us all to kick back and enjoy ourselves – free of worries and cares. But for many, those same features of the summer months that give pleasure and happiness to others are triggers for behavioral health challenges. The sheer expectations of the summer can create a standard of enjoyment, which if unmet, can make some feel inadequate, left out, or simply not “normal.”
HEAT
The high temperatures of summer alone are enough to endanger an individual’s emotional well-being. There’s research indicating that higher ambient temperatures lower the experience of positive emotions and increase both negative emotions and fatigue. Moreover, the heat may keep those most sensitive to it locked indoors and potentially isolated from support networks.
VACATIONS
Summer vacation and travel represent both a break to existing routines – which can have deleterious effects on individuals with a range of behavioral health disorders – and social pressure to have a “social media-worthy” vacation. Some people may even feel an obligation to take a vacation despite having no actual inclination to do so. In turn, this adds additional pressures and stressors.
BODY IMAGE
Beach season is time for swimsuits, tank-tops, and exposed skin. But for those with concerns about their body image, it can be a particularly challenging time of year to navigate. Particularly in adolescents, body image concerns are linked to an increase likelihood of experiencing depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
SAD
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) goes beyond the winter months. The causes of SAD in summer are still not clear (partly because research into SAD has focused on those impacted in the winter) but the Mayo Clinic lists changes in circadian rhythm, drops in serotonin levels, and changes in melatonin levels as possible factors. The shift into summer often means scheduling changes – that and longer daylight hours affect sleep patterns, which have an effect on brain chemistry. Whatever the reason, SAD sufferers can experience all of the symptoms of depression. Additionally, “summertime depression often brings insomnia, loss of appetite, weight loss and feelings of agitation or anxiety….[and] can also create an increased feeling of isolation.”
Despite its carefree reputation, the summer is no time to ignore your behavioral health. Although it may appear that some people glide through the summer months on a cloud, others are struggling – perhaps more so than the rest of the year. Remember to check-in on your mental health with an anonymous, online screening at www.bedfordma.gov/youth under the screenings section to get more information.
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