Summer S.A.D.🌥️
Did you know Seasonal Affective Disorder doesn't just occur in winter? Cartoonist Summer Pierre clues us in with a helpful comic and Q&A.
Hello, dear friends,
We’re in the thick of August here in New York, with blazing sunshine and warm days. Did you know S.A.D. can strike in this season, too?
S.A.D. is Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of major depression that affects 4-6% of people in America during a certain season of the year and then passes. Often season is winter (which can also bring winter blues, a milder form that affects more people — and why I created Winter Camp).
But summer can trigger S.A.D., too. I learned this recently from a comic by the wonderful cartoonist
, What is Helping in This S.A.D. Time, where she shared tips.About 1% of people suffer from summer-pattern S.A.D., according to Penn Medicine.
Winter S.A.D. symptoms often include extra sleep and increased appetite, while summer S.A.D. symptoms can be the reverse — loss of appetite and insomnia. (View a longer symptom list from NIH.)
Both summer and winter S.A.D. include symptoms of major depression in general, such as persistent sad, anxious mood, feelings of hopelessness, despair, irritability, guilty, and worthlessness, loss of interest or pleasure, lower energy, and difficulty concentrating. (Depression really is awful.)
Experts aren’t sure what triggers summer S.A.D., but some speculate it’s connected to light and our circadian rhythms. Summer S.A.D. could also be linked to pollen and humidity/heat. Some experts have called for more research on summer S.A.D., especially as shifts in climate are causing more areas to become hotter longer and earlier.
Summer’s comic was full of things that can help with summer S.A.D. She graciously allowed me to share her cartoon with you and agreed to answer a few questions. Thank you, Summer!
Follow Summer on Instagram @Summer.Pierre and view her awesome illustrations on her website. She also has an Etsy store, where you can buy an issue of her wonderful Pencil Paper Life comics series. I pre-ordered a copy and am excited for it to come in the mail this fall.
4 questions with cartoonist Summer Pierre
I don't think many people know that S.A.D. can happen in many seasons, not just the winter. How did you realize you had summer S.A.D.?
I’d heard of winter S.A.D for years—I knew of several people who go through it, but I thought it was mostly due to a lack of light & to cold temps. I come alive in the cold months so I never associated myself with it. Then one summer I just recognized that every summer I went through the same lack of energy, insomnia and depressive thought pattern and I thought: is this a seasonal thing? So I looked it up and was enormously relieved to see that summer S.A.D was a real thing. It helped me not personalize it—it was circumstantial, chemical & predictably temporary.
In your comic, you mention Tara Brach, her meditations and her book Radical Compassion. For people who haven’t heard of her before, can you tell us more about why she can be so helpful?
Tara Brach is an East meets West mental health practitioner. She is both a Buddhist meditation teacher and a former practicing psychotherapist. Her teachings and talks on mindfulness have been a lifesaver for me for years. She’s deeply practical and gives very specific methods to help drop below the surface feelings to the unexamined messages our thoughts keep firing at us that keep us anxious and in pain. Her talks on “Real but not True” and “mistaken beliefs” as well as the audiobook of her Radical Compassion are some of the most affective lessons I’ve ever found for dealing with anxiety and depression.
Learn more about Tara Brach and watch her videos.
How can people who love summer help support their friends and family who have summer S.A.D. or find this season hard?
Like any form of depression, recognizing it’s real and that although it is temporary, it is painful and they are doing the best they can. Stay connected, visit with them, listen, gently help them get out of the house. If they aren’t seeing a therapist, encourage them to do so.
Have patience. It will pass.
Do you have any advice for people who are reading this and suddenly realizing that they may have summer S.A.D.?
It’s real! You are not alone! Get out of the house as much as possible—moving the body is the best for any form of depression, but in seasonal depression being outside and moving the body can be a lifeline. Get up early or go in the evenings if the heat is too much. You most likely won’t feel like it, but it will help a lot. Stay in touch with friends & family. Don’t worry about keeping up with others in their summer boosts—it can feel like a lot of pressure to enjoy the summer. Don’t worry about it! Be gentle with yourself, know this will pass. However, summer S.A.D. Has higher rates of suicidal feelings. If you are having any thoughts if hopelessness, please seek help immediately.
The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. Call or text 988 or visit the 988 Lifeline website.
Thank so much to Summer for sharing her cartoon and insights with us.
I hope those who are struggling this season find respite soon.
As Summer says, “Be gentle with yourself, know that this will pass.”
To our journeys,
Brianne
p.s. Here’s one more comic about Summer S.A.D. by another terrific cartoonist, Ellen Forney:
I feel so seen! Thank you, Brianne. Loved the cartoon and the mini-Q&A with Summer.