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Summer SAD

08 Jul 2025 9:48 PM | Natalie Love (Administrator)

Contributed by Michelle Neilson

Michelle Neilson, Water Quality Scientist, has been with Metro Wastewater since 2008.  She has a B.S. in Chemistry and many years of laboratory and field work.  Michelle has worked for USGS, contract laboratories, and several municipal wastewater and drinking water labs prior to Metro Wastewater. 



Yay, Summer is here!   But, is it all it’s cracked up to be? 
Not for everyone.  I’ve never been a fan of summer and have always been made to feel like a grumpy person or a buzzkill during the summer season.  I don’t know why I never looked into this before but there is such a thing as Summertime Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  What?!?  How could this be?  Everyone loves summer…  I decided to do a comparison with a friend to figure out some reasons for our differences, myths of Summer Bliss and how to best manage the Summer Bleck.


Summer can be really stressful whether it be financial, physical, or social.  Maybe you don’t want to go hiking because your allergies take days to recover. You may need to figure out what to do with your bored kids all summer.  You don’t want to drive to that far vacation destination but can’t afford flights for a whole family.  All your friends are going to Water World and you can’t imagine putting on a bathing suit in public. Maybe your medication makes you more photo-sensitive.  There seems to be a lot of pressure to be doing amazing fun things outside while looking great and spending money. Everyone has different family, work and personal circumstances that can also add stress and discomfort.  Here's a sample of things people love about summer and the reasons why others may not.   If you have any of the alternate replies, you might not be alone.  Not all of these “negative” replies are actually mine, just examples. Occasionally I can handle, and even enjoy, any of these things.  It’s the pressure and expectation of an entire summer of all of these things that makes me want to hang out in the walk-in cooler alone, and I’m an extrovert!


Summer Bliss

Summer Bleck

Hot hot weather

Unbearably hot

My kid being out of school and not stressing about homework

Me stressing about what to do with my kids and how to pay for it

Being rid of my seasonal depression

Experiencing Summer depression

Not having to wear a coat in the morning

Afternoon hail

Wearing cute skirts

Social media ruins everything

Longer days / more sunlight

Good but don’t sacrifice sleep.  Schedules being completely off can be pretty disruptive and exhausting

Festivals

Sweaty dusty festivals

Outdoor drinking

Extreme dehydration and headaches

Splash pads at the park or outdoor malls

This seems helpful

Reading by the pool

Reading In the pool can actually be nice

Reading in the park

Sneezing in the park

The perfect time to invite neighbors over for a barbecue

Trying to force neighborhood social time and putting in a lot of extra work. 

Vacation - the beach!

Stressing about vacation expense and time off.  Not to mention crowded destinations.

Time to show off my pedicure

Ok sure

Warm enough for me to hike

Too hot to hike anywhere near Denver

Also, rattlesnakes

The only time to comfortably camp in the mountains

Is there such a thing as “comfortable camping”?

Everything is so green! (except in droughts)

The green part is good but so much yard work

Iced tea on the patio

Iced tea alone on the basement couch

My spouse grilling every night

This could be nice

Increased energy

Low energy from the heat

Birds chirping wildly all day

Birds are good! Yellowjackets are not

Fireworks

Wildfire danger

Outdoor movies

Starting too late for the kids

Free music in the park 

With ticks and mosquitos

The sun legit makes me happy

The sun legit makes me burn


Here are a few ways I’ve learned to adapt and handle my summers over the years:

  • Set up the kid pool on your patio and use it.
  • Drink more water and listen to your body. Heat exhaustion is no joke and also no fun.
  • Know your limits and what sounds fun vs what will actually be fun for you.  Plan shorter times at events or earlier morning outings instead of afternoons. I like early morning kayaking and bird watching.
  • Voice your need to sit in the shade whenever you have the option.
  • Recognize and practice your need to feel comfortable. Self-preservation does not mean you hate everyone and are never happy.  I think everyone is happier when they feel good.
  • Unapologetically bring hats, sunscreen, extra water, umbrellas and anything else that helps you feel well physically and mentally.
  • Give yourself a break for trying to stay alive and happy. 

Resources

https://www.webmd.com/depression/summer-depression

https://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/summertime-sadness-ways-to-chase-away-the-warm-weather-blues/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202405/understanding-and-managing-summer-sad?msockid=2f1f6f00fca6648a1c817b7efd2865ca


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