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Is Summer Affecting Your Mental Health? (Part 2)
Summary: The heat, humidity, sunlight, and social and financial pressures of summer can lead to negative feelings and behaviors that could be signs of serious mental health conditions. This article explains how summer can affect mental health in different ways and why it’s a good idea to seek counseling for support.
Nutley Family Service Bureau’s (NFSB) Mental Health Services provides counseling and psychiatric services for individuals, couples, and families. Immediate appointments are available in-person and virtual with English- and Spanish speaking counselors. NFSB is nationally accredited through COA, a service of Social Current. Our vision is a community where mental well-being is an integral part of life. This article is part of an ongoing educational series focused on understanding and improving your mental health.
“Wow, you’re in a bad mood. Must be the heat.”
“How am I supposed to get the kids home from camp in the middle of the afternoon?”
“Everyone is expecting a big vacation but I don’t know how we’ll pay for it.”Although most people associate mental health challenges with winter, the stress of summer can be even worse. In the previous article, we discussed how intense heat and humidity, the high cost of vacations and summer camp, and a lack of sleep can have a negative impact on your mental health.
For people with existing health conditions, different aspects of the summer season can make a difficult situation worse.
Let’s continue the discussion of the ways summer weather and activities can affect mental health and how counseling can help.
1) New Routines
Work schedules. Childcare and summer camp schedules. Longer commutes to drop off and pick up kids. Different wakeup times and bedtimes for kids, with lots of unstructured time to fill in the middle.
Changes in routine can make you feel like you’re constantly behind or lost. For children, shifting from the highly structured routine of the school day to hours of free time can lead to feelings of anxiety, isolation, and depression.
“Routines are very important for people who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),” said Kristen Petullo, LCSW, Assistant Director of Outpatient Services at NFSB. “For students, it’s important to maintain some type of structure to allow for a smoother transition when they go back to school. But routines are also important for adults, so you shouldn’t hesitate to seek support if you have trouble adjusting.”
2) Body Image
Summer styles, bathing suits, and beach weather can cause significant anxiety for people who struggle with body image. Social media comparisons only exacerbate these feelings. Just like most people only share the highlights of their lives on social media, they typically show only their best photos, too.
“Everybody is a beach body, and every individual deserves to enjoy summertime activities in a way that makes them feel comfortable,” Kristen said. “I encourage people to focus on health, not size. Wear what makes you feel good. Hide social media posts that trigger negative feelings and consider counseling if you struggle with body image.”
3) Medication Adherence
This can be a challenge during summer because some medications can have adverse effects when someone is exposed to the sun and intense heat.
Individuals who take medication to relieve symptoms of mental health conditions and improve daily function should speak with their prescriber. Ask if lifestyle or prescription changes are needed to minimize adverse effects. NFSB has an advanced practice nurse (APN) on staff who can prescribe medication, assist with medication management, and answer questions.
How Counseling Can Help
Counseling allows you to open up about your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors in a safe space. This is an opportunity to feel heard and understood by a therapist who will listen without judgment and provide the support you need.
You’ll work together to understand and identify the underlying causes of what’s bothering you. Then you can discuss coping strategies that help you deal with the negative effects of summer in a productive way and move forward with clarity and confidence.
If you feel like summer is affecting your mental health, contact NFSB today for counseling and support. Remember, you don’t have to be in a crisis to seek help. Immediate appointments are available, and we’ll always respect your privacy. Call 973-667-1884 extension 1 to schedule an appointment.
