The Other SAD: Summer-Onset Seasonal Affective Disorder

When you think of seasonal affective disorder, chances are you associate it with the shorter, darker days of fall and winter. However, for about 10 percent of people with the disorder, the onset of spring and summer can trigger symptoms. Experts aren't exactly sure why this happens, but longer days and increasing heat and humidity could play a role.

Symptoms of summer-onset seasonal affective disorder, also known as summer depression, include:

• Anxiety
• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability
• Agitation
• Weight loss 
• Poor appetite
• Increased sex drive

Symptoms might start out mild and become more severe as the season progresses. 

While it's not uncommon to feel down, people who are depressed for days at a time and lack the motivation to do activities they normally enjoy should see a doctor. 

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