Are others affected by plummeting mood when summer arrives?
Here in Minnesota we have four distinct seasons, and winter depressions have afflicted me more often than not. Spring is great, but when the temperatures finally get above 70 I want to get back in bed and hide.
It's so bright, and lush, and green, and warm - and I can't stand it and want to crawl out of my skin. Over-stimulation. I'm only now realizing that this is not new - I remember it happening in my 20s, but I don't think it was long-lasting.
Figuring out this balance being doing what is right for me and avoiding what isn't is crazy difficult at times. I love being outside but have limited it in recent years because of how all the light wears me out. It's a change that only now is starting to make some sense.
I'll be interested if anyone else experiences this and what you do about it.
Thanks!
I can most definitely relate to you on this.
My first round of major depression occurred at 19 ( just a few days into June )
I would have " gone there " anyway but it seems that in summer there is
really " nowhere to hide ". And that is what I wanted to do... and did , for a nice
9 month stretch.
However the following summer I was in the midst an approximately 5 month hypomania
and of course thought summer was fantastic. ( Any season seems OK " during " ).
It is interesting that you used the term hiding.
Just prior to logging in I was thinking about not only myself but other people I know
with BP , who tell me of there symptoms and experiences. The common psychological thread is an issue of hiding from something. Some trauma or perhaps a prolonged exposure to something highly stressful. We don't want to face whatever it is.
( Or at least the feelings associated with it )
We may not even be sure what specifically " it " is but we do know we want the feelings created to go away.
Getting back to the summer thing.
The overstimulation that you mention I think plays a big part.
Particularly if we are in a vulnerable state.
Recently I have been wearing my " shades " when going to the grocercy store or ANY store for that matter with those unfriendly flourescent lights.
This has made the shopping experience more tolerable and somehow even reduces that little " comparitive " thinking that occurs because everything gets toned down.
I think a lot of us have some light sensitivity to some degree.
There are other issues with summer.
If in fact we do want to calm things down the long daylight hours can be a psychological factor. It's hard to not feel guilty for wanting to wind down before the sun is all the way down.
I do really like dusk in the summer during any mood .
It is a great time to get out for a walk or any other outdoor thing you may want to do.
Very calming. The activity level is slower all around and the lower light is nice too.
Take care and do what works for you !
Thanks for your reply, 1 - tho' I'm not glad to hear you've suffered from this too, I'm glad someone I'm not alone. !?! You know how that is. Sometimes light is shed from others' experiences.
I'm only now hearing how light sensitivity is so common with bp. Good info.