How to Manage Your Mental Health During Summer
It’s harder to maintain your mental health in the summer than it’s often made out to be. Summer living should be easy–longer days, time in the sun, good weather, kids out for school. And that’s how it’s often portrayed, with everyone smiling and enjoying big barbecues or days at the beach. It turns out summer is when we’re most stressed, according to an American Physiological Society study conducted before the pandemic.
Why are we so stressed during summer? For one, the pressure to feel good and take advantage of the sunshine raises expectations and leaves us feeling like we’re not doing enough. Social media compounds the effect, when we see only the highlights from friends and family, including pictures of vacations abroad and amusement parks galore. Those pictures of course do not capture the arguments while traveling, financial strains, and mishaps with accommodations; though we’re acutely aware of our own struggles with the aforementioned issues.
Seasonal depression is now known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. It’s incorrectly assumed to only come about during the winter, when in fact it is any change of seasons that affects those with SAD. For those struggling with SAD, their circadian rhythms, serotonin, and melatonin levels are all impacted. Sleep schedules and mood get all tangled up just when you expect them to improve.
So how can you manage SAD, or just generally keep up your mental health during the summer month?
HERE’S SOME QUICK TIPS:
Get some Vitamin D. Yes, getting outside is cliche, but it’s important for both your hormonal balance, physical, and emotional well-being. Going on a walk (solo or with a friend, coworker, family member or pet), reading at the park, riding a bike or stepping out for a coffee or tea are all easy ways to spend time outside. Finding time to get out is especially important if you work remotely and find yourself trapped inside for much of the day (often with little social interaction!)
Set boundaries & plan ahead. Many people feel overstretched and stressed by commitments and expectations during the summer. Weddings, vacations, community events, and holidays can be both a mental and financial burden. Be clear with yourself and those in your social circle of when and what you’re able to reasonably do without stretching yourself too thin.
Practice self-care. Is easy to get caught up in others’ lives during the summer months; make sure you’re taking care of yourself, too. Be sure to get three balanced meals a day and get some exercise–even yoga, walking, or meditation should suffice. Therapy, if you’re not already taking advantage of it, is another option that almost everyone would benefit from. If you’re working remotely or are out of school for the summer, still get up, shower, and practice a morning routine. That can help stave off feelings of isolation and keep your schedule normalized.
MHT’s SmarTest® AI platform tests tens of thousands of patients each month–we find many people are struggling with depression or anxiety, and end up seeking professional evaluation and treatment once they realize this. Our patented behavioral health screening platform is the quickest for healthcare providers to identify, treat, refer, and bill for various behavioral health concerns.
Here’s a brief rundown of everything we do for healthcare providers: We send patients assessments, upload results into EHR, notify of high-risk results and make referrals on your behalf. We also track and upload subsequent test results performed by referred specialists. SmarTest® AI tracks both patient and provider progress and outcomes. For professionals who manage clinics, we help increase your revenue through add-on CPT codes and additional ancillary services, lightening the administrative load and boosting your bottom line.
To learn more about MHT’s SmarTest® AI, you can ask our partners, or contact us here.
Resources:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180425131906.htm
https://www.mhtech.com/blog/seasonal-affective-disorder-causes-symptoms-and-effective-treatment-options
https://www.mhtech.com/blog/primary-care-on-the-front-lines-of-behavior-health-inclusion-of-mental-health-assessments-during-annual-physicals