The Summer Blues: The Other Side of Seasonal Affective Disorder

Ah, at last, the summer has finally arrived! For many people, this time of year brings a sense of joy, lightheartedness, and fun. Afterall, what’s not to like about sunshine, beach outings, vacations, and longer days? It would seem like a simple equation for happiness and uplifted moods- right? However, a small percentage of people experience summer much differently than the majority. You have probably heard of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, which is typically associated with the winter months. This is when a person experiences symptoms of depression due to less sunlight and colder temperatures. However, for a smaller subset of people, summer has the opposite effect and triggers an increase in anxiety and depression symptoms. Experts believe it may be attributed to higher humidity levels, social pressures, body image issues, or longer days. So, what can we do to help ease summer depression symptoms? Here are a few tips to help cope with SAD in the summer.

Mental Health Awareness for Teens

Let’s take note of a particular population that has been facing a unique set of challenges over the past few years- our teens. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a loss of socialization skills, an increase in stress, and a disruption in the routines and norms of our teens’ lives. In fact, there is no better time to raise awareness of the importance of addressing the mental health needs of teenagers as the ramifications of their challenges are now being seen more readily both at school and at home.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

Brain Injury Awareness Month is observed each March. The purpose of this is to bring awareness to brain injuries, often referred to as TBIs (traumatic brain injuries), concussions, or ABIs (acquired brain injuries). TBIs are often caused by external factors. These could include car accidents, sports, and falls. They are often categorized by severity, ranging from mild to severe. Concussions are a form of mild TBIs. ABIs are injuries to the brain that are not caused by genetics or birth trauma. These could include stroke, seizures, meningitis, or other infectious diseases. You may have also heard of or seen chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is a progressive and fatal brain disease after repeated TBIs.

Is Diagnosing Helpful?

The topic of diagnosing comes up frequently. In fact, I recently helped contribute to an article about diagnosis and how difficult it can be at times. I am big on the idea that I don’t treat the diagnosis, I treat the symptoms. Two people can come to me for treatment and I can provide the same diagnosis, but their symptoms are very different. That’s because the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is in its 5th edition (DSM-5) has a list of several criteria for various disorders, and depending on the disorder, not all criteria need to be met.

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