Summertime Blues…For Real

 It kind of depends on where you live - it's seven times more common in Washington state than in Florida - but according to the website Family Physician, anywhere from 5 to 30 percent of us suffer from some kind of seasonal depression.  

The cold, gray and light-limited winter gets most of the blame and for those impacted, the bright sunny days like July in Yakima spell relief - but unknown to most is that seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can also affect people in the summertime.

In the summer, light and heat can disrupt some people's internal body clock which messes with their sleep and hormones.

The prescription for relief in summer is about the opposite of what you would do if you had the winter version . Experts say stay inside as much as you can, or try to force your body into a strict pattern: a half hour of light each morning and a consistent bedtime.

To battle the heat, utilize air conditioning and take cool baths and make an appointment with your doctor next spring to ask how you can proactively treat your summertime blues. (Woman's Health)