Basically, this is the time of year where our species has found various ways to celebrate the life-giving force of the sun and celebrate the way it aids in the growing of everything we know on this planet to be life giving and life sustaining. This includes the way it boosts human energy and mood in a way that gives us more desire to be active and do things, which in turn can help with exercise and sleep patterns.
We think of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) as something that only happens in the Winter with increased cases of depression and sadness, but with warm weather comes the stress of heat and for some the increased levels of energy during the Summer can lead to increased occurences of anxiety symptoms and usher in a different kind of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Some of the ways that SAD looks different in the Summer is that since energy levels rise in the body people can experience things such as anxiety, insomnia, and restlessness, and because there is more daylight we tend to get to bed later or even stay up late to enjoy the cool of the night, which can lead to loss of sleep needed to get through the next day. So believe it or not, even depression can set in over time, just like it does in the Winter.
Ways to regulate mood in the Summer include keeping a regular schedule for your sleep wake cycle, staying cool and hydrated, as well as practicing your relaxation techniques on a regular basis including meditation, abdominal breathing, exercise, and daily journaling. Exercise is easier and more accessible in the summer, so get out and partake in everything from walking and hiking, to summer sports and activities in the parks. Be sure to counter-balance that, however, with rest and relaxation and take in that great summer revitalization by soaking in gentle hot springs, lounging a bit on the deck or at the pool side or beach, and relaxing in the cool evenings that are geared at regulating body temperatures after a long hot day.
Our ancestors celebrated this time of year by building bonfires and dancing around them (even leaping over them) in festive ritual. A more modern idea is to consider writing words or phrases on paper that you want to let go of for the year and burning them in the fire to "let them go". You can celebrate with some hydrating foods like watermelon, grapes and fruit. And be sure to go out and try to see that wonderful rare Strawberry Moon tonight. All of your whole body knows what time of year it is!
You can find my earlier blog entry about Seasonal Affective Disorder here
"I have only to break into the tightness of a strawberry, and I see summer--its dust and lowering sky." ~Toni Morrison
Thanks to Nigel Hoult for the great photo
