Summer is here and with it the parties in many towns, sunny days, walks on the beach, outdoor activities: a well-deserved vacation.
It seems like a good time to have fun and relax, but the summer blues or seasonal depression often It is accompanied by symptoms such as excessive sadness, irritability, fatigue and anxiety.
Although this disease is common in women, regardless of age or sex, its symptoms should not be underestimated and care should be taken not to prolong or worsen it. Dissatisfaction and discomfort with one’s own body is one of the main causes of summer blues. Meanwhile, increased public exposure of the body at the beach or pool, or simply wearing lighter or bare clothing can lead to stressful situations.
Established beauty ideals, along with the lack of acceptance of one’s own imperfections, are one of the main reasons for the appearance of this seasonal depression. Excessive heat increases irritability and fatigue, and therefore creates sometimes unbearable discomfort.
Additionally, tiredness and exhaustion affect the quantity and quality of sleep. Days are longer and busyness is common, often resulting in reduced sleep hours. Another important characteristic of this disorder is related to holidays. For many people, the feeling of “doing nothing” for a long period of time is a great discomfort. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for vacations to be idealized as a moment of happiness in an idyllic postcard setting that, in terms of the expectations they arouse, does not always correspond to the settings in which we finally spend our vacations. This variable increases feelings of frustration, apathy and sadness.
Finally, it is important to note that The increasing amount of time we spend with family and as a couple creates an area of tension that can surface and generate more discomfort which in turn affects mood.
What to do to prevent summer depression?
There are general recommendations to prevent, detect or treat these symptoms. Above all, avoid excessive sun exposure. Vitamin D is absolutely necessary, but it is advisable to take the necessary doses of sunlight during the hours of less aggressive sun exposure. Something to recommend not only from a mental health point of view, but also from a dermatological point of view.
It is also important to adjust expectations to the reality in which we live, not paying prices beyond our means due to the need to impress on social networks or with your family and friends. It is more valuable and beneficial to visit places where we can focus on enjoying the experience. It is also extremely important to make time for well-planned daily activities. Don’t leave everything to chance, because completely stopping your daily activities is not conducive to your well-being. However, you should plan some time to rest and laze around.
Finally, food must be handled with great care. To be balanced, it contains fresh and liquid products that allow us to have good digestion. Something that allows us to establish a good sleep routine. Prevention is often the cure.
Depression is much more serious than a simple crisis
We must be very attentive to our symptoms and the signs of those around us. As everyday professionals, we continue to see so many requests for help after a long period of discomfort, making it difficult to address a problem that would be much easier to solve if it could be treated earlier, when the first symptoms appear.
It is very important to pay attention to the duration and intensity of these states, since they are not always transitory states, but depression is always present and at certain times it worsens. It must be taken into account that depression, in Spain alone, is a common mental illness with around three million people diagnosed. Taking this into account, the most recommended option is to always go to a specialist as soon as possible, without waiting for the symptoms to worsen.
José Manuel Requena – Director and Psychologist of Mentalia Salud Usurbil
