End of summer depression is a real experience for many people

For many, Summer has been that much-needed breath of fresh air and warm sunshine. It’s a time for travel, vacation, celebrations, and rest. However, even with a wonderful summer coming to a close, some individuals may be feeling unseasonably blue. It can be disconcerting, but there’s a good reason for this psychological and emotional shift.

The climax of summer is over

For many Americans, summer is an incredibly short season compared to the other three.

So, they place a lot of pressure on themselves to take full advantage of it, and to fill it to the brim, along with every martini glass and weekend.

We spend months planning in advance. That goes for everything from top travel destinations, to weddings to wardrobes. And before you know it, June seems like yesterday and August is nearly over. About 10 percent of people are feeling emotionally low and asking themselves, “Where has summer gone?”

People feel end-of-summer guilt and regret

You don’t have to be Lana del Ray to have your very own summertime sadness. As much as we yearn for the heat of the summer, most of us are not accustomed to hot temperatures and we quickly trade in our sweat-drenched outfits for air conditioned apartments and shopping centers.

However, it’s only when the cooler temperatures return that we begin to realize how incredibly foolish we’ve been. Summer doesn’t last forever, and what’s worse, it’s almost done.

Body image issues can also rise to the surface during this time. People may feel hard on themselves because they never ended up fitting into summer-appropriate apparel. Other individuals may have had many fitness goals planned for the warmer seasons, only to fail at reaching them.

It’s difficult to trade summer for September

September is as inevitable as Monday, and director of psychiatry of Weschester’s Medical Center, Stephen Ferrando, explains that “August blues…are sort of like the Sunday night blue for a month.” And this sense of sadness can grow into seasonal affective disorder (SAD) if you’re not careful.

Ferrando explains that end-of-summer sadness can be a mix of negative emotions, such as guilt, regret, panic, and the realization that time is passing.

It’s never too late to seize the summer day

The reality of yet another summer coming to a close can cause you to feel emotionally lower than usual. However, there are certain steps you can take to make the most of summer’s final days. For example, if you haven’t allowed yourself to take a break from your job, now’s the time to step away from the desk and go to the beach instead. If you can’t make it to the stereotypical summer escapes, recreate them at home. It’s easy to roast marshmallows in your backyard, or barbecue your favorite foods on the grill.

Your city or town may still be offering outdoor markets, performances, film screenings or ethnic festivals. If you’re feeling low, it’s easy to give up on summer. And while it’s true that parting with it is inevitable, you can still live in the present moment and enjoy what it can offer you right now. It may help you feel better.

Apart from getting involved in the last summer activities, you can reverse negative emotions by creating and committing to an exercise routine. Routines, in general, can help people feel more at ease and calm even as the days grow shorter and cooler.