SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) in the Summer

[SiouzQ.]

Does anyone else get this? I'm really in a funk right now. I've definitely noticed it in years past, even when I lived in Michigan. Just complete, utter exhaustion and inertia, an inertia that is REALLy hard to break. Including the extreme lack of motivation to do much of anything at all (a big one), some sadness, and anger at myself for feeling this way.

In years past, I used to be able to gloss over it by being busy at work, or busy in the yard, fabricating jewelry or playing my guitars. Most of that stuff I used to do I cannot do anymore. Working in the yard is out for now, as it is just too damn hot here in the desert. Because I am allergic to most bug bites, I have to be completely covered up IF I decide to try and work outside. I just cannot make myself get up early to do it before it gets hot either. Not going to happen. If I have something on my schedule, like running into town to do errands, that helps. Working my one day a week helps a little. It's just weird to have all this time to do anything I want but I have absolutely no motivation to do anything at all. Sometimes I just lay down on the bed and stare at the ceiling for god knows how long. And all I want is to be left alone by everyone, including the spouse.

Everything is still kind of stressful right now with the spouse getting laid off. Supposedly my Medicaid will start on August 1 but since I had to report his unemployment income he started getting, I think that will be enough to kick me right off Medicaid. Only when I get the denial letter from that office will I be able to sign up for the ACA.

Ugh, I just want SOME ENERGY back!

[catherine]

I'm not sure it's a seasonal disorder, although part of it could be. Sometimes I'm happy when winter comes because all the summer activities are laid to rest, and no more daily gardening chores, and it almost feels like a welcome hibernation to have November roll around.

But in your case, you are probably just feeling the blowback of everything you've been through over the past several months. You've been trying to ride on top of it in order to problem solve all the issues, but every now and then, it's normal, I would think, to just sink into it and feel a little sad and lethargic.

[iris lilies]

I swear my friend has the SAD for summer, she hates it. She feels like she comes alive in the dark dank days of winter.

Reverse SAD is a thing.

Me, I want sunny days but they dont have to be hot. It took me many years to figure out I would probably hate the cloudy days of the Pacific Northwest, a place I,always wanted to move to.

[pinkytoe]

I am now in my third year running where I come down with strange GI symptoms every spring and then they disappear slowly throughout the summer. Perhaps there are mind-body connections to not feeling well seasonally that we don't even understand.

[SiouzQ.]

I generally love all the sunshine here in NM but there's something that happens around this time of year to me. Just sheer exhaustion whether it is warranted or not. We haven't had any appreciable rain in quite awhile and everything is super-dry. The salad garden is dead from the incessant heat and it's just hard to be outside from about 11 am to 5 pm. My lack of a schedule is disarming, and being in chronic pain is also exhausting.

I think I just needed to vent somewhere. I can't imagine living in Phoenix where the summer temps are even worse.

[nswef]

siouzQ- Vent away. You are going through A LOT right now, give yourself grace and just accept this is a time at this moment when you need to rest and regroup. it may take a long time. I think being inside with air conditioning (bless it!!) can be depressing,because you want to be out but it is too dang hot! Trapped indoors by the weather. Dending you hope and peace and energy.

[Tybee]

If it's weather related, then are you happier in the winter? I have the traditional SAD so that November through May are awful.
Can you take a quick trip to somewhere cool by a lake or something?
So sorry you are going through this, especially the health and the job loss stuff.

[SiouzQ.]

I am going back to Michigan next month for an impromptu visit to my 93 year old mom. My brother will be visiting from NC the same time and my sister lives in the area so we'll have a little family reunion. However, I won't have a car to use so I won't be able to get out to any lakes. Even though I'll be trading dry desert heat for sticky humidity, it'll be something to look forward to, at any rate.

[happystuff]

I agree with all the other posts, SiouzQ. Sounds like a change of scenery will be a help! Hope you have a good family reunion!

[littlebittybobby]

okay---i've got a new theory, yet unproven--that the panacea for Summer SAD is to get up at the crack o' dawn, and get outside, before it warms up. Then, about noon, you can go back inside and rest until about 6 pm. Then, go back out for a couple hours. Yup. Hope that helps you kids. Now you know why Siesta are a tradition, south of the border. Well, aren't they? Thank mee.