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Many people think seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or seasonal mood changes, only happens during fall and winter. Rain, snow, gray skies, and shorter days can all trigger feelings of depression.

But are summer blues a thing? Some people may actually experience seasonal depression during warmer, sunnier weather.

If this sounds like you, you aren’t alone, and it’s not all in your head. Summertime sadness isn’t just a song by Lana Del Rey. Summer depression is real, and there’s help for it.

What Is Summertime Depression?

You may have heard the term SAD for mood changes during the fall or winter months. Reduced sunlight is often the trigger for people with wintertime SAD, the most common seasonal form of this mental health disorder.

If you get depression during the summer, you may wonder: Is there a summer version of SAD? Whether you get SAD during the winter or summer, the psychiatric diagnosis is major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern.

Other reasons for summertime depression

Some people may also experience depression during the summer that has no relation to SAD. Other risks for depression or mood changes during the summer include:

• Body image issues — Pressure to look a certain way or fit into a certain size swimsuit can trigger anxiety for many people. For people with eating disorders, for example, summertime often triggers mental health issues, according to the National Eating Disorders Association.
• Disrupted sleep schedules — Many people don’t follow normal waking times and bedtimes during summer break or vacation and may not get enough sleep. Poor sleep hygiene can increase the risk of mental health problems, including depression.

Symptoms of Summertime SAD

Mood changes caused by seasonal weather patterns share some of the same symptoms as major depressive disorder. Symptoms may vary from mild to severe.

In general, common symptoms of SAD include:

• Agitation or increased irritability.
• Difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions.
• Eating more or craving carbohydrates.
• Fatigue or loss of energy despite sleeping more.
• Feeling sad or having a depressed mood.
• Feeling hopeless or worthless.
• Headaches.
• Inability to sit still, pacing, hand-wringing.
• Social withdrawal.
• Sleeping too much.
• Slowed movements or speech.
• Thoughts of death or suicide.

People with SAD during the spring or summer have somewhat different symptoms than people with SAD during the fall or winter.

Common symptoms of summertime SAD include:

• Agitation.
• Increased irritability.
• Insomnia — difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Lack of appetite.

How Do Doctors Diagnose SAD?

To diagnose SAD, your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional. They will go over your medical history and ask about your symptoms.

A diagnosis of major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern means:

• You have these symptoms of depression only during a particular time of year.
• You’ve had these seasonal symptoms for two years in a row.
• Symptoms get better or go away after the season is over.

Risk Factors for Summertime SAD

Most people who have SAD develop symptoms during the fall and winter months. Symptoms are often the worst during January and February. The lack of sunlight from weather changes and shorter daytime hours may trigger biochemical imbalances in the brain that may cause SAD.

Exposure to light affects your body in many ways. It helps control your brain’s 24-hour circadian rhythm. This, in turn, affects your sleep-wake cycle and other important functions, including digestion and hormonal activity.

Why summertime may trigger seasonal depression in some people isn’t yet clear. Some research looks at how climate change, including higher temperatures, can impact mental health. Heat and humidity may trigger SAD symptoms in some people.

Who Is at Risk for SAD?

About 5% of adults in the U.S. experience SAD, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Any adult can experience mood changes related to weather changes. Though SAD can start at any age, it often begins between 18 and 30.

People most at risk for SAD include:

• People living in countries with higher altitudes. They experience SAD more than those living at lower altitudes.
• People living in locations that have different seasons.
• People who live far from the equator.
• People with a history of mild depression.
• Women.
• Young adults.

Symptoms of SAD are more than just the “winter blues” or “summer blues.” They can interfere with your daily functioning and quality of life. People with SAD may face an increased risk of suicide or psychiatric crisis, according to the National Library of Medicine.

If you’re thinking of suicide or self-harm, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. You can also chat with them online at 988lifeline.org. If you live in Allegheny County, call Resolve Crisis Services at 1-888-796-8226. For emergencies, call 911.

If you’re struggling with depression related to seasonal changes, reach out to your doctor to get help. Numerous treatment options can help treat and manage this mental health disorder.

Treatment Options for SAD

In general, treatment for SAD includes one or more of the following:

• Medications, including antidepressants and hormone therapy.
• Therapy or counseling, including cognitive behavior therapy.
• Light therapy.
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for hard-to-treat cases of SAD.

To treat wintertime SAD, doctors often recommend light therapy, usually along with antidepressants. Light therapy involves using a special light box that mimics sunlight. You sit in front of it in the morning, 20 to 60 minutes a day.

Light therapy may also help people with nonseasonal depression, according to a meta-analysis published in Psychiatry Research. So, even though you have plenty of sun during summertime months, you may still benefit from light therapy for your summertime depression.

Lifestyle changes that may help manage SAD include:

• Eating healthy.
• Improving sleep hygiene. Getting enough sleep on a regular schedule.
• Increasing exercise or physical activity to boost your brain’s dopamine levels.

Some people with SAD may have low levels of vitamin D. But whether taking vitamin D supplements helps people with SAD remains unclear.

Your doctor may recommend one or more treatment options. Nearly 70% of people with SAD will keep getting depressive symptoms from seasonal changes, according to the National Library of Medicine. The sooner you start treatment, the better your chances of finding help to treat and manage your symptoms.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on April 28, 2025, and was last reviewed on July 25, 2025.