Now that spring is here, you’re probably getting rid of the winter blues.
However, if you’re still feeling blue despite warmer temperatures and increased sunlight, you’re not alone.
Experts warn that you could be one of the more than a million American adults suffering from spring depression, in which feelings of sadness and lack of motivation begin as winter ends and last until 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 allergic symptoms, as well as the fear of missing out.
She noted that this could cause suicide rates to rise in the spring and summer, rather than during the colder months.
Dr. Supria Gill, a behavioral psychologist at Kaiser Permanante in California, said spring depression could be due to an increase in allergies from “pollen bombs” across the country.
“It can be quite surprising, especially because in the winter we have shorter days and less sunlight, and that is one of the biggest causes of seasonal affective disorder in the winter,” Dr. Gill told me. KCR 3.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs when seasons change.
Dr. Gill said signs of spring depression include loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy, feeling down for most of the day, chronic fatigue, social withdrawal, changes in appetite, difficulty concentrating and sleeping more than normal.
For most people, symptoms begin in the fall and continue into winter as the sky darkens earlier and temperatures drop.
However, SAD can also occur during the transition from spring to summer.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), approximately five percent of American adults – nearly 13 million – suffer from SAD, which can affect at least 40 percent of the year.
Experts estimate that of those 13 million adults, 10 percent suffer from this reverse seasonal depression, which begins in the spring and extends into the summer.
Dr. Gill attributed the spring depression to the fear of missing out that comes with the changing of the seasons.
She said many Americans are struggling with the shift from being cooped up indoors in the winter to the days getting longer and warmer.
“Seeing other people doing things can really worsen their feelings of depression, and so social comparison can be a factor,” she said.
In addition, allergy season, which usually starts in April but has gotten early due to climate change, could contribute to spring depression as people want to spend more time indoors and less time outdoors with friends or loved ones.
Dr. Gill noted that “one of the surprising statistics about this time of year is that suicide rates are actually higher.”
‘Many people think suicide rates will understandably be higher in winter. December is actually the lowest when it comes to suicide rates, while late spring and early summer have the highest suicide rates. So we know that people are struggling with their emotions right now.”
According to preliminary CDC data, there were 4,375 suicide deaths in April 2022, the highest number for the year. In December there were 3,960.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), approximately five percent of American adults – nearly 13 million – suffer from SAD. Experts estimate that 10 percent of them experience this reverse seasonal depression, which begins in the spring and extends into the summer
Although many people talk about suffering the effects of seasonal affective disorder during the cold, bitter winter months, it appears that its impact may be greater in the summer, with suicide rates rising from May through October.
To combat these feelings, Dr. Gill recommends focusing on ‘the big three: exercise, sleep and nutrition.’
As for exercise, she noted that even a walk outside can improve mood in some people as much as taking antidepressants.
For example, an Australian review of 218 studies and 14,170 participants found that low-intensity exercise such as outdoor walking, light jogging and yoga led to fewer symptoms of depression.
The researchers emphasized that while more research is needed, these types of exercises “can be considered core treatments for depression alongside psychotherapy and medications.”
Dr. Gill also pointed to an anti-inflammatory diet, as inflammation has been shown to alter signals in the brain that influence mood. These foods include dark leafy greens, omega-3-rich foods like salmon and avocados, and vitamin C sources like fresh citrus fruits.