The time is approaching, or is already here for some, for school to be out and summer vacation to begin. There are a lot of things to look forward to over summer vacation! Of course, some people enjoy it more than others. For some people, summer vacation brings fun and fewer responsibilities. For others, it brings stress and uncertainty.
Why most of us love summer
Many of us are conditioned to love summer because we associate it with time off school. Not having to be at school for 3 months was something many of us counted down to eagerly. It usually meant no homework, no getting up early, and not having to study. Some may have had no bedtime or curfews, signaling even more freedom during the summer months. We don’t have as many responsibilities and we don’t have to worry about nearly as much. Many of us go on family trips or solo trips at this time.
Of course, there are always exceptions, even among children and teens in school. Plenty of people don’t go on vacations for a variety of reasons. Some teens have to work over the summer to support families or themselves.
Why some of us don’t like summer
For many parents, summer is more stressful than it is freeing. Childcare is a big concern for children who are school aged but not old enough to stay at home alone. While some people do have other adults in their lives that can help out, like retired parents or grandparents who may be able to babysit, not everyone does. Navigating what childcare is going to look like without school, and after-school activities, being in session is a big stressor.
Other parents may feel extra pressure to provide activities or events for their children to attend or participate in. It may be outings, vacations, or play dates. Either way, it’s something that puts extra pressure on a parent’s schedule. This is especially true for parents who still work their normal hours during the summer.
All of this can come with extra financial stress, as well. Paying for childcare and for activities for children can add up to an extra expense that not all families can take on easily. Instead of looking forward to summer months, some people look towards them with dread.
Seasonal depression
Another thing to consider is that some people experience seasonal depression during the summer. While not as common, this form of SAD is very possible and affects about 10% of people who have a seasonal pattern to their depression. Instead of looking forward to summer, people with summer seasonal depression may instead be dreading the shifts that will bring about severe changes in their mood.
With summer SAD, people usually experience insomnia, poor appetite, and higher levels of irritability. These things can impact someone’s daily functioning. This means people with summer SAD are more likely to heavily dread the coming of the summer months as they know it’s going to negatively impact their mood.
What can I do?
If it’s your child who is struggling with a change in routine, it could be a good idea to try and add some routine to their summer. Things like getting them enrolled in summer programs is something that can help them get into a new routine until the new school year starts.
If you’re struggling with responsibilities, worrying about things, or you’re experiencing summer seasonal pattern depression, then there are a few options for things you can do. Sometimes, worry and stress can be tackled pretty effectively by looking at your schedule and seeing what can be dropped, altered, or moved. Other times, the worry and stress can be so overwhelming that it’s not as simple as just changing your schedule around.
In cases like that, it’s important to talk to someone. For smaller problems, you can talk to friends or family who can help give you perspective or problem solving. For other problems you may need to reach out to a therapist.
If what you’re struggling with is seasonal depression, you may want to reach out to a prescriber and look at using anti-depressants to help manage symptoms. Many people with SAD take anti-depressants just during the time of year they struggle with depression. For example,
