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Original poster

Does anyone get SAD in reverse?

159 replies

AchillesLastStand · 08/04/2022 17:52

This sounds strange but I think every spring I have SAD rather than in the winter. It’s like my brain can’t cope with the longer days, I can’t sleep and feel anxious all the time. The past week has been awful, and I keep waking at 1.10 in the morning like clockwork and then can’t get back to sleep. I have constant brain fog.

I read that your brain may produce less melatonin in the spring which causes the sleep problems. I really like the winter months and feel cocooned by the dark evenings. Is anyone else like this?

For record, I’m currently taking amtriptyline for anxiety but it’s not helping with the insomnia.

OP posts:

Ponderingwindow · 08/04/2022 17:56

Sort of. The long days and sun exposure does something to me. It’s not exactly SAD. It’s more a physical reaction to the sun. If I stay in the shade, wear spf clothing, and even go so far as to use a parasol on high UV days, I don’t react as intensely. I’m extremely pale and burn really easily, but just wearing lots of sunblock isn’t enough to keep me from feeling unwell.

SnowdropsInSpring · 08/04/2022 17:59

Yes. Hate long, bright evenings. Love autumn and winter. Hate the heat.

Original poster

AchillesLastStand · 08/04/2022 17:59

@Ponderingwindow I am the same with sun exposure. I’m very pale and burn easily. Just being out in the sun makes me feel unwell.

I found this on mood changes in the spring:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13546925

OP posts:

chisanunian · 08/04/2022 18:00

Yep. once it gets to mid-June I've had enough, and breathe a sigh of relief when we get to September again. I love autumn.

Rockbird · 08/04/2022 18:00

100% yes. I dread the longer days and count down the days till the clocks go back. No one takes it seriously though because they don't understand not liking the sun. I feel like my life is on hold until October every year.

EveSix · 08/04/2022 18:03

Yes. We all get tired and sluggish but DP gets really low and anxious in early spring. Comes around again by first May bank holiday.

Covetthee · 08/04/2022 18:06

I get depression during the summer for some reason… i think it goes back to my younger days when I had very little social life and there was the expectation that you should be out all the time having the time of your life in the sun, it just seems to have stuck with me.

I welcome the colder weather and darker evenings.

fedup078 · 08/04/2022 18:08

@Covetthee
Same
I get very anxious if I'm in the house and have no plans when it's nice outside

Rifling · 08/04/2022 18:08

Yes! I live in a hot country though and I really struggle from May to September.

Ponderingwindow · 08/04/2022 18:10

I have heavy curtains all over my house. Many of them are even motorized so It’s easy to close the house up.

WheresMyAlex · 08/04/2022 18:14

I’m exactly the same! Nice to know I’m not odd as everyone else seems to love spring-summer.

OnTheHillNotOverIt · 08/04/2022 18:18

I really struggle with the click change. Messes with my sleep

inmyslippers · 08/04/2022 18:19

^^ same never known anyone else to feel the same

DressingPafe · 08/04/2022 19:53

This may sound strange but around 7pm you need to block the daylight. I have heavy curtains in my living room and a blackout blind in the bedroom. Put on a lamp, even light some candles, and don’t think about it being light outside. This tricks your brain into thinking it’s dark outside which then triggers the production of melatonin. That’s why you produce less in spring, because you don’t start producing it until it gets dark.

I suffered for years and researched “summer sad” a lot. It is a thing and it’s just as crippling as winter sad. But people feel they can’t speak about it as we’re all supposed to be thrilled at hot days and long evenings. I spent some time in Japan and even though it got close to 40 degrees there in summer, I felt so much better because it still gets dark about 7pm (which also helps to cool things down).

If you suffer with the heat, and can afford it (not sure I can now with increased energy bills!) portable air con makes a huge difference. Or even a hot water bottle filled and placed in the freezer to sleep with.

Psychologically, don’t be hard on yourself. Don’t feel there’s something “wrong” with you for not enjoying summer. Every year on here there are “I hate summer” threads so you’re not alone!

InFiveMins · 08/04/2022 19:55

Yes I'm the same. I love autumn and winter, I love dark nights. Long light evenings just make me feel pressured to be doing something. I don't do well with the heat.

flapjackfairy · 08/04/2022 19:56

Oh Yes, I love autumn and winter and hate the light nights.
I am already counting the weeks until summer solstice and once that arrives I feel like it is all downhill to September and my favourite half of the year.
It's mad really but I just can't help it, !

TwilightSkies · 08/04/2022 20:00

I’m the same. I just feel more balanced and content in Autumn/Winter. The darkness is like a cocoon as someone upthread said.

My sleep goes crap in Spring and it effects my mood a lot. Hate the pressure to be doing stuff too.

HashtagShitShop · 08/04/2022 20:04

I definitely do. I have hyperhidrosis so I'm hot all year round but in the summer with the humidity it's unbearable. I much prefer the cooler weather as I'm still sweltering but it's not as bad wheh outside in the cooler air.

Spring and summer leave me in dread. Autumn and winter are much better for me.

Cityzen74 · 08/04/2022 20:08

Yes I get this. I don’t like the long days and I am relieved when September comes. Everyone I know thinks I am a misery because of it and I try hard to enjoy spring and summer but I just don’t like them. I am glad I am not the only one

mrburrsir · 11/04/2022 19:02

I hate the heat and find something weirdly melancholy about the long warm evenings

KosherDill · 11/04/2022 19:05

@SnowdropsInSpring

Yes. Hate long, bright evenings. Love autumn and winter. Hate the heat.

Same here. I love rainy, dark days, too. Feel unnerved and restless on bright sunny days.

Somewhere I read that for some people, running water including rain does something calming to the ions in the air.

KosherDill · 11/04/2022 19:07

@Cityzen74

I know what you mean. It gets tiresome being dismissed as a "weirdo" for enjoying cozy dark evenings and blustery, cool, rainy weather.

I don't "hate" the sun exactly, but a little goes a long way. I find it difficult to see to drive, garden, etc., in the bright glare, I don't like the effects on my skin, and I prefer sitting cozily by an indoor fire to sweltering outdoors.

ALongHardWinter · 11/04/2022 19:27

I'm not very good with hot weather,and don't really look forward to longer,lighter evenings. I particularly hate it when it gets light at 4am! A friend said to me a couple of years ago that it sounded like I had SAD in reverse.

Aisforharlot · 11/04/2022 19:32

I hate hot sunny weather, I do get anxious about it every year. There's something about the sunshine and heat that seems so bloody relentless. Love October.

IAlsoHateSpring · 11/04/2022 19:35

I also hate spring! I love autumn and winter and like summer but I feel the same every spring. Like very sad and anxious and even sort of scared and lonely (for no reason).

It's worse at a certain time of night, like 5/6pm when the sun is starting to set but it's still bright and cold and I can hear the birds. It's hard to explain but it sort of makes my skin crawl.

I've NC'd to reply to this thread as I've mentioned it to a few people in real life (who all think I'm mad!).

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