Salubrious Insanity

Summer: a cherished season of rippling crystalline blue water, of bright flashes of swimsuit prints, of the nostalgic scent of mown grass at dusk. For schoolchildren, a three-month respite from book bags and lectures; for everyone else, a stretch of delicious sunshine and greenness.

However, this morning I chanced upon an eye-opening article about summer depression. The phrase seems rather paradoxical: how could balmy, sunny joy possibly have anything to do with gelid, dark melancholy? I found myself lifting an eyebrow, but the disorder and its causes are actually quite intuitive:

Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder:

The more commonly cited (as well as appropriately abbreviated) SAD occurs during the wintertime months of low sunlight, dissipating like a vapor in the warmer months. Symptoms include fatigue, need for more sleep, and increased appetite, which often result in weight gain--rather reminiscent of a bear in torpor. However, Summer SAD, which enshrouds June, July, and August, results in just the opposite: restlessness, trouble sleeping, and consequential weight loss.

Causes:

Though not well understood, SAD seems to originate from a disruption of the body's biological clock that regulates sleep, mood, and hormones--a disruption that is linked to levels of light absorption. Additionally, the article cites other seasonal changes that can throw people off balance:

- Changes in living patterns: Shorter days and the promise of glorious sunlight often entice people out of bed, but at a cost. Both parents' and children's routines are thrown into disarray when school and its regulating force is temporarily halted. Vacations alter established routines of eating, sleeping, and activity.

- Body image issues: Magazines splayed with attractive models clad in minimal swimwear, social gatherings at the pool--summer is the season of skin. However, for those less confident about their bodies, the heat can signify the onslaught of anxiety, fear, and feelings of inferiority. Even intensive diet and exercise plans (often established at the beginning of 'bikini season') can produce negative effects, triggering pressure to succeed and hopelessness with failure.

Too much sunlight, if there exists such an idea, can lead to summer depression. So can reveling in the glory of short nights, barbecues, pool parties, vacation. The article advises sufferers and would-be sufferers to recharge, eat properly, and understand their limits. Enjoy, but with caution.

It appears that the lesson is that moderation ought to be exercised whenever possible--even when summer and its shimmery smile beckon.