That’s that me, Depresso

written by: meredith evett, lcsw

So we all know that one of the top songs of summer 2024 is Espresso.
But what you might not realize, and what I’m here to announce, is that one of the top mental health struggles of summer 2024 is… 

Depresso. 

Summer depression can hit us hard and unexpectedly; summer should be fun, right? Why would anyone feel depressed when the sun is shining and we don’t have to go to school?!

When that last day of school hits, it can feel so nice to have wide open, unstructured days. Your bed is probably calling to you to rot in it, and you have an hours-long queue of TV shows to catch up on. But after a few days (or weeks for those of us with a high rotting tolerance), that unstructured freedom can start to feel like purposeless boredom. Wearing the same sweats for 3 days and watching 6 hours straight of old “Dance Moms” can quickly go from feeling relaxing to feeling… depressing. 

Then throw in the pressure. We’re all supposed to love summer and be living our best lives for these 3 months. We see posts on social media of pretty much everyone we know smiling and laughing as they travel and hang out with friends seemingly nonstop. The comparison game is real, and it’s so easy to start to feel like something’s wrong with us when our expectations of what summer should be don’t match up with our reality.
Also, summer is HOT. Especially for my Texas folks (but honestly pretty much everywhere now; thanks, climate change!), going outside during the summer can be truly unbearable. We all think of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) as striking only during the winter as days get shorter, but I’d venture to say that SAD can also hit the hotter climates over the summer. When we’re cooped up inside all day because it’s just too hot to go outside, it’s easy for depression to run rampant.

So what can we do for the next couple of months to make it through the summer depression? Without the structure of school, we really need to work hard to build our own structure each day. Rotting in bed is not it. Make a daily schedule that works for you, and make sure it includes taking care of your basic needs - eating, showering, moving your body, etc. Throw in plenty of fun things that make you feel good; this is summer after all! Start a new crafting project, get back into reading, redecorate your room, or teach your dog how to “speak” (actually, maybe don’t do this one. I taught this to my dog and now every time I touch the treat bag, she barks at me). Go outside, especially in the morning when you first wake up before it gets to 110 degrees. Take a walk or just sit in the sun, soaking up some vitamin D. Try to limit the endless social media scrolling. FaceTime with a friend. Remind yourself that it’s okay to be struggling, that this season will pass, and that talking to someone about it can help. We’re here for you, and I’m working late ‘cause I’m a singer therapist that works a lot of evening hours.

That’s that me, depresso.