Now that spring has arrived, you’re probably over the winter blues.
However, if you’re still feeling bouts of sadness despite the warmer temperatures and more sunlight, you’re not alone.
Experts warn that you could be one of the more than one million American adults suffering from spring depression, where feelings of sadness and lack of motivation begin as winter ends and last into summer.
Dr. Supria Gill, a behavioral psychologist at Kaiser Permanante in California, said this lesser-known form of SAD (seasonal affective disorder) could be due to an increase in allergy symptoms, as well as fear of missing out.
He noted that this could be responsible for suicide rates rising in the spring and summer rather than during the colder months.
Dr. Supria Gill, a behavioral psychologist at Kaiser Permanente in California, said the spring blues could be due to an increase in allergies to “pollen bombs” across the country.
“It can be quite surprising, especially because in winter we have shorter days, less sunlight, and that is one of the main contributing factors to seasonal affective disorder in winter,” Dr. Gill said. KCRA 3.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs when the seasons change.
Dr. Gill said signs of spring depression include loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy, feeling sad most of the day, chronic fatigue, social withdrawal, changes in appetite, problems concentrating and sleeping more than usual.
For most people, symptoms begin in the fall and continue through the winter, when the sky darkens earlier and the temperature drops.
However, SAD can also occur during the transition from spring to summer.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), about five percent of American adults (nearly 13 million) suffer from SAD, which can affect at least up to 40 percent of the year.
Experts estimate that of those 13 million adults, 10 percent feel this reverse seasonal depression that begins in the spring and lasts into the summer.
Dr. Gill attributed spring depression to the fear of missing out that comes with the change of seasons.
He said that as many Americans struggle with the shift from being cooped up indoors during the winter to the days becoming longer and warmer.
“Seeing other people doing things can actually make your feelings of depression worse, so social comparison may be a factor,” she said.
Additionally, allergy season, which usually begins in April but has been brought forward due to climate change, could contribute to the spring blues by making people want to spend more time indoors and less time outside with friends or loved ones.
Dr. Gill noted that “one of the surprising statistics this time of year is that suicide rates are actually higher.”
‘Many people understandably think that suicide rates would be higher in winter. In fact, December is the lowest in terms of suicide rates, while late spring and early summer have the highest suicide rates, so we know people are struggling with their emotions right now.’
According to provisional data from the CDC, there were 4,375 deaths by suicide in April 2022, the highest number of the year. In December, there were 3,960.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), about five percent of American adults (nearly 13 million) suffer from SAD. Experts estimate that of them, 10 percent feel this reverse seasonal depression that begins in the spring and lasts into the summer.
While many people talk about suffering the effects of seasonal affective disorder during the cold, bitter winter months, it turns out that it can be most impactful during the summer, with suicide rates increasing from May to October.
To combat these feelings, Dr. Gill recommended focusing on “the big three: exercise, sleep and diet.”
As for exercise, he noted that even a walk outside can improve some people’s mood as much as taking antidepressant medication.
An Australian review of 218 studies and 14,170 participants, for example, found that low-intensity exercises such as a walk outside, light jogging and yoga caused fewer symptoms of depression.
The researchers stressed that, although more studies are needed, these types of exercises “could be considered along with psychotherapy and medications as basic treatments for depression.”
Dr. Gill also pointed to an anti-inflammatory diet, as inflammation has been shown to alter signals in the brain that affect mood. These foods include dark leafy greens, omega-3-rich foods like salmon and avocados, and sources of vitamin C like fresh citrus fruits.