Can Seasonal Depression Occur In The Spring?
Springtime. The season for renewal and growth. It symbolizes a new beginning filled with new opportunities. The weather gets warmer, the days grow longer, and nature starts to bloom. People wait for this time all winter long.
But here you are, feeling less than joyful and, dare you say it…somewhat dreadful. The grass isn’t always greener when the change into spring happens for some people.
It’s Spring…Shouldn’t I Feel Better?
Contrary to what you may think, the change in season from winter to spring (and even spring to summer) can trigger some emotional changes. Seasonal depression doesn’t have its own specific diagnosis. Instead, it falls under the major depression diagnosis with seasonal patterns.
As the days become longer, you may find yourself having a hard time adjusting to more hours of sunlight. This can affect your sleep, causing irritability and fatigue.
As activity picks up, you may be expected to increase your social calendar commitments. If you’re not fully prepared, you may feel overwhelmed and turn to isolation rather than socialization. The sudden change can create a sense of inner turmoil that leads to feelings of depression.
Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is pretty straightforward for most people. The season shifts to winter, and those winter blues kick in.
For those who experience similar symptoms in the spring, it is considered a reverse seasonal affective disorder. At the end of the day, transitions are hard for people. Not everyone is a spring-summer season person; many prefer the wintertime for various reasons.
What Causes It?
Daylight saving time is a common cause of the springtime blues. While it’s only one hour, changing the clocks can place a good deal of stress on your brain and body. How often do you hear people complain about daylight saving time and how long it takes them to adjust? It’s probably pretty frequent.
Sleep pattern changes that come with changing the clocks can also take their toll. Poor sleep quality can lead to strain on your cognitive functioning and mood. Not getting enough sleep hours can also cause irritability. When you’re not fully rested and recovered, depression can feed off of that.
Additionally, during the spring season, allergies start to ramp up to their peak. High pollen counts and reduced air quality can make people with seasonal allergies feel miserable. Allergies are enough to make daily functioning more complicated, let alone motivate you to participate in all the social activities.
How Better Weather Impacts Mental Health
Seasonal changes can also have a psychological impact. As previously mentioned, large groups of people enjoy the quiet and calm time that winter brings.
If you enjoy your free time indoors or are more of a homebody, you may fit this category. Once the holidays pass, there are limited engagements and expectations. Those who suffer from social anxiety may also enjoy the quieter times when their systems are more regulated.
When you lose the cold weather as your barrier to things that agitate you, you may quickly feel bombarded and overwhelmed. Helpless to fix your situation, you may start to experience seasonal depression. The more drained you become, the harder it is to get out of that mental cycle.
Beating the Blues
While it may seem difficult, there are things you can do to cope with the change in the season.
Acknowledge that you struggle with the season’s change and accept your experience. Give yourself grace, and remember you will have good and bad days. The start of the spring season may bring you depression, but that doesn’t mean it will stick around until the next winter.
Get into a routine and make sure you’re embracing the outdoors. While the short term may seem rough, the long-term benefits of fresh air, activity, and relationship building will pay off.
Talking with a mental health professional about your struggles and working through coping strategies can also be helpful. Contact us to explore your spring blues in more depth with depression therapy.