I think that I may suffer from summer pattern seasonal affective disorder - anyone else?

[BellaBobandBernietoo]

I didn't even know this was a recognised thing until yesterday but I genuinely think that I may suffer from this.

I do also struggle with deep winter SAD and dread January and February but I feel equally awful during the high summer months and wonder if anyone else feels like this?

I would like nothing more than to enjoy the hot and bright weather as so many others do but the truth is my body and mind struggle so much as soon as high summer comes along.

As soon as June through to August comes I feel dreadful. It's hard to fully articulate but the heat and the stickiness oppressiveness just wrecks me and it's not just the heat, the bright days do something to my brain, I have to wear sunglasses all the way through the summer months, even when it's not sunny, if not I can feel quite anxious and panicky. I also feel very nauseous in the summer and have little appetite, my mood is low and I have zero interest in anything and of course the broken nights sleep affect me too. When evening and night time arrive I feel so much better, more relaxed and at ease. I do have ADHD so not sure if there is a connection there?

Even when the kids were little I dreaded August and found it quite depressing for some reason that I could not fully explain.

I am happy and much lighter in March-May and then again September-November, in fact I adore September and October and feel a completely different person, I just wish those months could last so much longer. I also adore the rain, no idea why but rain calms and grounds me and makes me feel very content and happy for some reason.

I appreciate not many people enjoy these humid heatwaves that we have here in the UK the last few years but this is more than not enjoying the heat. I do love a gentle warm/cooler day with sun and fluffy white clouds with perhaps a nice cooling breeze but anything more than that does me in for some reason.

Can anyone else relate to this?

Could it be sensory related to your neurodivergence? I know other neurodivergent people who feel similar hence my question.

Yeah, I’ve been telling people for years that I have ‘reverse SAD’.
the light evenings and mornings play havoc with my sleep, I cannot function properly above about 24 degrees. I love autumn, winter and spring, though.

I do have Hashimoto’s, which could apparently be something to do with it. And menopause. Poss adhd too. I’m a joy to be around this time of year, not.

planning my work has become a new hobby. I need to finish a project today, before my office gets too hot. Had to work until midnight last night, just to get as much done as I could. Shattered.

You are not alone

Yes me. I get really down and anxious from March onwards because I know summer is coming. I find the days too long, bright and warm. I can’t cope with the forced optimism of summer. I know I’m weird.

Summer is too much of everything. Clothes are awful, people’s behaviour is awful, foods crap. I try my best to stay in curtains drawn. I live five minutes from the beach but never go between May and September.

It is so stressful to get through summer and I know it’s less usual to feel like this. It just makes me feel ill. Headache swollen and tired.

I do wonder. I was only diagnosed last year at the age of 52 so I am still trying to navigate that world tbh, still much to learn and understand but it does often feel like a sensory thing. I do have sensory issues.

I'm exactly the same, it's actually reassuring to find someone who feels the same as I often find myself questioning why I feel so differently from everyone else around me.

I feel this heavy doomed feeling as we approach high summer and a really heart sink sensation when they announce the weather is going to be exceptional hot, everyone else around me is lapping it up but I just want to weep. Yesterday I spent the afternoon and evening on my bed, curtains drawn and fan on. It actually made me feel more miserable knowing everyone else loves it. I feel awful because my DD18 loves the summer and I feel I can never join her on nice days out as I end up feeling really unwell.

I'm also coastal and can not bear going near the beach in the summer but I happily spend many autumnal and winter days walking my dog miles along the coast.

Yes I have SAD in the summer and people just find it funny. Can you imagine if I laughed at them for how they felt in the winter. I struggle so badly and and so happy when October starts.

I’m not as extreme as you but i definitely don’t enjoy the summer. I hate being too hot and having to go about “normal” life.

I worry insanely about animals and it makes me so sad seeing people out and about dragging their poor dogs along in the heat.

I love being home and hate the fact it’s so light so late into the evening.

I absolutely love spring and autumn but Summer can absolutely do one.

I find if I mention it to others they look at me as though I have two heads, they just can not comprehend someone may not enjoy a season as they do. I really want to but never have, even as a child I preferred Spring, Autumn and Winter.

Me too.

I have no idea why people chose to take their dogs out for walks in the middle of heatwaves, I've just seen a man in our village walking his dogs over the fields opposite me, there's zero shade over there, poor dog. Our dog didn't get a walk yesterday it was too hot all day. He will be fine, I am not going to put his health at risk for a walk, missing a day won't kill him.

I don't know what is wrong with some people, maybe the heat changes their cognition!?

It's definitely sensory. My friend is autistic and she finds sitting inside watching the rain her favourite thing to do. She says it relaxes her . The sun overwhelms her.
I see people sitting with hairdryers on to give them the same white noise and theres sounds on Spotify that are rain sounds and people enjoy that when they are over stimulated and need to regulate. Everyone copes differently. And you're finding your way.

Yes, I can totally relate to that. I often wonder if I have asd as well as adhd as I too have quite a lot of sensory issues.

I’d suggest holidays during the summer to the West Coast of Scotland. We don’t get the oppressive heat like everywhere else in the UK. You could also talk to your GP, they are happy to help with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

There is a lovely app called Portal with nature sounds, waterfalls, streams etc very relaxing

https://portal.app/

Oh I have Hashimotos too - how could that have something to do with it?

I’m the same OP. Not neurodivergent as far as I’m aware, but can’t bear the heat and struggle to function. The thought of it only getting worse due to climate change makes me despair.

Spikes and dips, normal hashi’s stuff - makes the autonomic nervous system and the body’s temperature control short circuit, and try to kill us.

I'f love to go to Scotland, it's always been on my wishlist, in fact I'd love to live more up north as the climate would suit me but dh isn't keen sadly.

I have tried various meds for my low mood during these times but they exacerbate my other other issues.

I feel very panicky thinking about it. I would love to install some proper air conditioning in the house but it will cost a fortune and then ill never want to leave the house at all in the summer lol.

@BellaBobandBernietoo I have always wanted to visit Benbecula

I can't bear Summer, it makes me incredibly depressed. The heat, the brightness etc does something to my brain. I hate the bright evenings too. If I mention it to anyone they act like I killed their first born and there is something dreadfully wrong with me.
I cannot help how my brain works. I would love to love Summer but I am not wired that way. I adore the Winter, it is my happy time but the Summer is something I struggle with hugely.

Ceiling fans in living room and bedroom, cool bedding and St John's Wort all year round. Does wonders for me.

Also, a SAD lamp from October to April.

I get this. I don't cope well in the heat and I find the light evenings mean I don't sleep as well even with blackout curtains and an eye mask.

Reading about global warming I'm now starting to think seriously about whether we should move further north. I don't want to spend summers living like a vampire because I can't face going outside.

Beautiful , no crowds and cooler weather.......my idea of heaven.

I have seen many threads on here where the op and others state they don't enjoy the summer and people replying they should stop moaning and just enjoy it but it's not as though we are purposely hating it, as you say it does something, whatever it is, to our brains, I literally find it difficult to function.

I would dearly love to enjoy it but the truth is I dislike almost everything about summer - except for the speed of drying laundry and the beautiful flowers in the garden, that's the only positive I can think of right now.

I'm seriously thinking about it too or the very least I am contemplating putting our touring caravan on a seasonal pitch up north so I can get away for at least the weekends in the summer, the South East is just no fun for me during these heatwaves.