The Good Old Summertime

By Cathy

In The Good Old Summer Time

There's a time in each year
That we always hold dear,
Good old summer time;
With the birds and the treeses
And sweet-scented breezes,
Good old summer time.
When your day's work is over
Then you are in clover,
And life is one beautiful rhyme,
No trouble annoying
Each one is enjoying,
The good old summer time.
In the good old summer time,
In the good old summer time,

Written by: Ren Shields

Published in 1902

This past week we official entered summertime. It’s the time of pool parties, vacations, outdoor concerts, and magical summer evenings. Summer has been defined as “a period of fruition, fulfillment, happiness, or beauty.” This sounds like a wonderful time of the year and for most it is.

For some of us, that is simply not true. It is not magical at all. For some these hot, humid, long days turn us into cranky, grumpy individuals that are often genuinely sick. We have what is call Summer-onset Seasonal Affective Disorder. The long days of summer literally drag us down and zap every ounce of our energy. Instead of the lethargic state of Winter SAD, Summer SAD shows up as agitation. We’re not ourselves, we’re jittery, we’re extremely irritable, and physical ill. Life seems more animated with loud shrieks of playing children, bustling crowds, and wild colored clothes. All those things together with heat, light, and humidity create a cacophony of sights, sounds, and feelings that overload our systems.

Summer depression wasn’t even recognized until 1986. Health professionals suspected the cause was the heat and humidity. So the solution was cool showers, air conditioning, swimming in cold lakes or heading North. Although these solutions are useful for immediate help, they don’t stick around. We can stay inside, lower the AC thermostat, and darken the room, but ultimately we have to go out doors and WHAM, we’re hit with the heat and harsh light and the physical symptoms return. Now it’s known that the summer light also adds to the problem.

During the entire summer my focus is survival. I spend the summer coping with severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, and overwhelming fatigue. I feel isolated. I can no longer go on hikes, wander small towns, or just sit in my swing. I can’t be part of the summer fun. I try to cope the best I can, but my normal positive mood is hard to find in the heat. When I just can’t stand being inside any longer I find a shady spot and put my feet in a tote full of ice water. It does help! Wish I could carry a tote of ice water with me everywhere I go!

 Here’s several ways I’ve learned to cope with summer.

• I eat a light breakfast every morning to start out the day in a cheerful mood. I try to get plenty of protein and lots of fruits.
• I try to only get out in the early mornings. Late evenings would be good also, but I live in an area with mosquitoes!
• I build in quiet times during the day: playing the piano, journaling, reading, or editing pictures
• I limit caffeine, electronics, and distractions.
• I keep a list of summertime happy things. Some days it’s only that I saw a butterfly out the window.
• I look for indoor places to explore like museums and flea markets.
• When I want to take my camera out and wander, I do it in the mornings, preferably near some kind of water. I make sure there’s plenty of water in my cooler, an energy snack, and a resting place in the shade.

Summer-onset depression is thought to affect less than one percent of the population. That in itself is a cause of stress. Try telling your friends and family “you hate summer” and you’ll be met with all kinds of looks, words, and helpful suggestions. “Try staying out more and your body will adjust to the heat” is one of their suggestions. I’m here to tell you that only worsens the problem! There’s also the helpful souls that say, “drink more water, you’re just dehydrated.” Nope, that doesn’t help either. Very few people understand the comment “I HATE SUMMER!”

I know there are some of you out there that completely understand how I feel. I know I’m not the only one. If you have any great suggestions for coping with summer, I'd love to hear them. For you summer lovers, if you do happen to find us outside and we’re complaining or cranky, please forgive us. It really can’t be helped and we will be better about late September or early November. You’ll most likely find us smiling and very happy in December, January, and February and listening to your complaints about the cold. While you’re out there enjoying your summer, we’ll be inside dreaming of snow!

I hope you enjoy your summer whether you're outside or inside!