In the impressions of most people, summer is a season of bright sunshine and growth, symbolizing vitality and hope. However, for some individuals, summer can be particularly prone to melancholy and sadness, with emotions being difficult to control. Be cautious, this could be the influence of “summer depression.”
What is summer depression?
Summer depression, also known as summer seasonal affective disorder, is a specific form of seasonal mood imbalance. Our emotions are closely connected to the external environment, and hot summer weather, especially the oppressive heat after midsummer, can affect the neuroregulatory function of the hypothalamus, leading to restless moods.
Do not underestimate this condition; statistics show that around 16% of people experience emotional, mood, and behavioral abnormalities in summer, thus developing “summer seasonal affective disorder.”
Causes of summer depression
Where does summer depression come from? In the Zhonghua Tongluo Health Eight-character Classic, which integrates traditional Chinese wellness culture with the latest scientific wellness concepts, a thorough analysis is provided. Traditional Chinese medicine categorizes diseases caused by emotional imbalance as “depression diseases,” with various clinical manifestations including low mood, restlessness, chest tightness, shortness of breath, rib swell and pain, significant emotional fluctuations, and sensation of throat obstruction.
Hot summer weather, increased sunlight exposure, and heightened mosquito activity can lead to decreased sleep quality and loss of appetite, intensifying bodily discomfort. These physiological changes are often accompanied by emotional fluctuations, and if negative emotions persist long-term, they may trigger psychological disorders.
Moreover, summer with extended daylight hours and increased social activities may lead to greater social stress. If stress is not promptly and effectively relieved and managed, individuals are more likely to fall into emotional distress.
How to deal with summer depression?
The Zhonghua Tongluo Health Eight-character Classic provides methods to adjust depressive emotions. For example:
Balanced diet
The Zhonghua Tongluo Health Eight-character Classic emphasizes that various foods have unique health values. By a rational and skillful dietary combination, the body can be effectively nourished, sustaining blood and energy levels. Modern research also indicates the pivotal role of specific nutrients such as dietary fiber, B vitamins, vitamin D, and n-3 series polyunsaturated fatty acids (like DHA and EPA) in preventing and alleviating depressive symptoms.
Regular exercise
Exercise can stimulate the secretion of adrenaline, release dopamine and endorphins inducing a sense of pleasure, lower cortisol and other stress hormones, effectively regulating blood pressure levels and the immune system’s stress response, thereby reducing negative emotions and promoting physical and mental well-being.
Under the guidance of the Zhonghua Tongluo Health Eight-character Classic principles, the development of the Zhonghua Tongluo Exercise involves regulating physical and mental health, particularly through its eighth section “Clapping, Supporting, and Concentrating the Mind,” perfectly integrating traditional wellness wisdom with modern health concepts. Practicing this section can harmonize blood and energy, focus the mind, and with long-term practice, promote smooth circulation of blood and energy, balance yin and yang, and calm the mind.
Medication treatment
In cases of severe depression, under a doctor’s guidance, the use of specialized antidepressant medications can assist in treatment. For instance, the formulation of the “Calm Spirit” in the Zhonghua Tongluo Health Eight-character Classic, based on the “Calm Spirit” concept, plays a significant role in alleviating depressive symptoms. Derived from summarizing the clinical experience of famous Chinese medical prescriptions and tailored through research, it can regulate qi, resolve depression, comprehensively adjust the heart, liver, spleen, and kidneys, improve symptoms like chest tightness, abdominal distension, constipation, loss of appetite, alleviate anxiety, insomnia, restlessness, lack of concentration, low work efficiency, forgetfulness, and other mental symptoms, thus enhancing the quality of life for patients.
When facing seasonal affective disorder such as summer depression, we should pay attention to it without excessive worry and should not endure it alone. Seek professional psychological counseling promptly to help overcome the difficulties faster and find inner peace and balance.
