Summertime Blues

Depression Anxiety Trauma Addiction

Well I didn’t go to work, told the boss I was sick,
Now you can’t use the car ’cause you didn’t work a lick.
Sometimes I wonder what I’m gonna do,
‘Cause there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues.

Eddie Cochran

Summer Can Be Miserable

Summer may be the favorite time of year for many of us (particularly those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere), but this is certainly not true for everyone. In fact, there are many of us who view the approaching hotter months with a sense of dread. The song ‘Summertime Blues‘ by Eddie Cochran is a catchy tune, but it just doesn’t capture how hard it can be for many of us who struggle at this time of year.

This lack of love for the summertime may just be down to personal preference, but it can also be due to an underlying disorder (any issue that is triggered by heat, long bright days, or other changes in our environment) or because we’ve had bad experiences at this time of year. Summer can bring out the worst in us, and this is particularly the case if we have some kind of addiction issue (click here to find out more about his kind of problem).

Summertime Blues Can Be Due to Seasonal Adjustment Disorder

Most of us will associate seasonal adjustment disorder (SAD) with a type of depression that is triggered by the coldness and darkness of winter. In Fact, it is also possible to experience SAD where it is triggered by the summer months. Here it is the heat and long sunny days that are causing the depression.

SAD during the summertime can arises due to a number of factors such as:

The fact that daylight begins so early in the morning and the day is so long can make it harder for people to sleep.
The fact that daylight begins so early in the morning and the day is so long can make it harder for people to sleep.
The heat can make people feel more anxious and irritable.
The heat can make it harder for some of us to eat.
The hot weather can actually encourage some people to stay indoors where it is cooler, and this can lead to vitamin D deficiency which impacts mood.

Addiction Issues Can Worsen During the Summer Months

A lot of us will do more socializing and travelling during the summer months, but this can also mean more opportunities to drink alcohol or use other recreational drugs. If we are on holidays or attending a festival, there can be the mindset that we deserve to let our hair down and really go wild. For those of us with an addiction issue, this can all end really badly. In fact, summer is a time when a lot of us hit rock bottom, and those not only caused a lot of pain for ourselves but also those around us.

Is There a Cure for the Summertime Blues?

Was Eddie Cochran wrong when he sang, “there ain’t no cure for the summertime blues”? It appears so, at least in many cases. For those of us who struggle with depression, anxiety, insomnia (find out more about dealing with insomnia by clicking here) and addiction issues, there are definitely things we can do to make our situation better. This might involve learning some new coping strategies, attending therapy, speaking to our doctor, or entering a rehab program.

If you would like to find out more about what we might be able to offer to help deal with your summertime blues, please contact us right away for a no-obligation chat.