Aug 15

Aug 15 It’s Summer… So Why Do I Still Feel Low?

Claire Fitzsimmons

Journal

You wake up to sunshine.

Your friends are away on holiday.

Your social feed is full of Aperol spritzes, sea swims, and sun-kissed skin.

But inside? You feel flat. A little off. Maybe even anxious.

And you can’t help but wonder: why doesn’t summer fix me?

Shouldn’t this be the season where everything feels lighter?

Why does it sometimes feel heavier instead?

If you’ve been feeling the pressure to be “living your best life” right now and can’t quite match that vibe — this post is for you.

We tend to associate sadness with winter — dark nights, long months, heaviness.

But there’s actually a summer-pattern Seasonal Affective Disorder:

Instead of low energy, this one shows up as

restlessness
irritability
trouble sleeping
a kind of persistent unease, even with blue skies above you

As the Mayo Clinic explains: Summer-pattern seasonal affective disorder affects about 10% of people who experience SAD. It often includes anxiety, poor sleep, and a sense of emotional disconnection.

3 Ways to Care for Yourself Through Summer Sadness

Summer-pattern SAD brings with it a unique kind of disorientation. Unlike the winter version that has us reaching for more light, this one asks us to manage too much of it. Too much brightness, heat, stimulation, and expectation.

So if you're feeling off right now, here are three expert-backed, compassion-led ways to care for yourself:

1. Cool the Light, Not Just the Room

Longer days and hotter nights can disturb our sleep — and when sleep is off, everything else follows.

Try this:

Blackout blinds or a soft sleep mask to help your body clock recalibrate
Fans, AC or whatever you need to to regulate the temperature of your room and your body.
Keep your sleep and wake times steady, even at weekends — your nervous system loves consistency

2. Say No to Overstimulation (and Over-Expectation)

Between heatwaves, social invitations, school holidays and the “go out and enjoy it!” pressure — summer can feel emotionally loud.

Instead:

Choose cooler, quieter places: libraries, art galleries, shaded walks
Hydrate. (Truly. Even slight dehydration affects your mood.)
Give yourself permission to opt out. Not every invitation is a requirement. It’s okay to not feel like BBQs and festivals. You’re allowed slower scenes.

You don’t owe the season anything.

3. Build a Gentle Structure That Holds You

One of the hidden challenges of summer is the loss of structure. Schools close. Routines dissolve. Life loosens. For some, that’s freeing. For others, it's destabilising.

Try:

Light anchors: regular mealtimes, morning stretches, a bedtime wind-down
Bookending your day with small, grounding rituals
Seeking support if the sadness sticks — therapy, especially approaches like CBT, can be a powerful guide back to steadiness

And if needed: medication and professional support are valid summer tools, too. You don't have to wait for it to pass.

That’s one layer…

Then there’s this: the emotional dissonance that comes from the pressure to feel good.

Happiness is expected in summer.

So when we don’t feel it, we add shame to the sadness.

This hedonic mismatch — the gap between what we think we should feel, and what’s really going on inside — can make us feel even more alone..

You might find yourself asking:

Is something wrong with me?
Am I wasting the season?
Why can’t I just feel better?

Even sunshine can’t override what you’re feeling.

What if we stopped treating summer like a performance?

What if instead of chasing happiness, we let ourselves be curious about what’s really here?

Your emotions don’t operate on a school calendar.

Your nervous system doesn’t care what month it is.

And while we love a good swim or iced coffee moment, they might not break familiar thoughts or feelings.

Which is where something powerful comes in: self-compassion.

According to Dr Kristen Neff, self-compassion involves treating yourself with the same kindness and care you’d offer a friend. It helps us hold pain and joy together..

Instead of asking “how do I fix this?”, ask: