Q: Harvard Health Publishing I am one of those people who get depressed when days get longer. Why do some people get the summertime blues? A: "Summertime blues" is an uncommon version of seasonal aff ective disorder known as summertime SAD. SAD is marked by depressive symptoms at a specific time of year.
Classic SAD occurs in late fall or winter when sunlight levels plummet and gloomy days dominate. For a sliver of the 2% of people who develop SAD over their lifetime, however, these symptoms clash with the arrival of beautiful weather, fun outdoor activities, fragrant greenery and vacation escapes. As with depression in general, however, both versions of SAD aff ect women more often than men.
The season-led shift from cold to warm also can sink the mood in ways more concerning than a mere case of summertime blues. These summer SAD symptoms resemble overall depression signs, including irritability, low energy, trouble concentrating and not enjoying activities that usually bring pleasure. Importantly, though, reverse SAD sometimes diff ers from winter-driven depression with opposite symptom patterns related to eating and sleeping.
Many people with non-seasonal depression sleep too little, eat less and lose weight. But those with summertime SAD may actually sleep more than one-half the day and put on extra pounds. A harbinger of winter SAD is a steady drop in natural light, which is thought to disrupt the body's built-in 24-hour clock, along with the brain's ability to process s.
