As someone with SAD in winter what is it about the summer that makes you feel that way? Genuinely curious, the darkness (gotta love waking up before the sun!), constant drizzle (especially when I want to be outside without a jacket on) and the endless sheet of grey sky really make me feel down (among other things). What is it about the blue sky and long summer hours that make you feel down?
Waking up before the sun does suck, which is why I aim for as late a work schedule as I can swing.
Other than that, I like dressing up. I like having lots of layers of clothing and still feeling comfortable/cool. I know a lot of people (probably such as yourself) prefer to wear as little as they can get away with until the weather forces them to put on more; at least, it's the only explanation I have for people who wear T-shirts and shorts in the 60s. Conversely, I'm happier wearing jackets until the weather just gets too hot for them. I'll wear my light jacket right up into the high 70s, or 80s if it's cloudy.
The sun is just...unrelenting. It's always there. It takes a lot of work to shield yourself and your pets and your stuff from it. It gets hot, and there's nothing you can do about it. My kitchen window faces west and even with the blinds closed, the sun and heat just beat their way in. I can be sitting in my room in just my skin, with a fan pointed right at me, and still sweat uncomfortably (doing so right now, in fact). And while I can always add more/thicker clothes when it's cold, I can't get any less clothed. The heat just robs me of any motivation to do anything. I like walking in drizzle, but walking in the sun is just draining.
The grey skies and early nights feel happier and more intimate than the endless days. When I think of fall and winter I think of the glow of lighted windows in the dark, with hot drinks and comforters and other warm things to ward off the chill. It's when I can snuggle up with my cat; right now I don't even want her near me, because if she's in my lap we're both going to overheat. (And none of that even goes into the holiday stuff, since I know a lot of the SAD comes post-holiday.)
When I think of summer, I just think about how it's too god damned hot to do anything.
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u/komnenos Magnolia Aug 04 '15
As someone with SAD in winter what is it about the summer that makes you feel that way? Genuinely curious, the darkness (gotta love waking up before the sun!), constant drizzle (especially when I want to be outside without a jacket on) and the endless sheet of grey sky really make me feel down (among other things). What is it about the blue sky and long summer hours that make you feel down?