Beware of the ‘summer blues’

FOR some, summer is not the period of bliss, beaches and bathing it is made out to be.
Most people have heard of or experienced the mood changes and negative emotional symptoms caused by the lack of sunlight, cold and shortening of days in the winter months.
Less commonly known is summertime seasonal affective disorder, characterised by loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, weight loss and anxiety.
The condition is believed to be caused by a combination of reasons including a disruption in regular routine, eating habits and sleep patterns, as well as body image issues, money worries (think holiday expenses or children’s pricey summer camps) and most importantly the heat and humidity, which can bring added oppression and headaches.
Several tricks can be followed to cope with the summer blues: getting enough sleep by making a commitment to go to bed early, exercising to boost ‘happy’ chemicals in the bloodstream, forgetting about inflexible diets which can negatively impact self-esteem, delegating tasks to others and talking to your doctor about medication if necessary. Happy and health summer!