Some people get SAD in the winter, when the sun makes itself scarce and temperatures and Vitamin D dip. I get MAD (Mercury Affective Disorder; I just made that up) when the sun makes itself abundant and temperatures and humidity levels soar.
It wasn’t always this way. High school summer breaks would find me, slathered in Bain de Soleil with a tanning reflector under my chin, basking on the Jersey Shore or the concrete slabs surrounding our community pool. I did everything I could to maximize the harmful UV rays - before we knew what havoc they could wreak.
When I traversed the Panama Canal aboard the German container ship, TS Columbus Australia (my summer job at age 19) I spent the full eight hours on deck marveling at the engineering feat, and the flora and fauna. A week or so later, during our Pacific crossing, my forehead skin cracked like baked phyllo dough and fell into the sink in my cabin’s tiny loo.
Now, however, I’ve morphed from sunflower to shrinking violet. Or perhaps to a vampire (minus the blood sucking). I dread the summer. Poison ivy, ticks, and mosquitos scare me, but their shadow pales in comparison to that cast by the sun.
I feel awful on very hot, bright, sultry days. My lungs strain to breathe, my energy levels dip, and I feel weighed down. I get tense(r) and testy(ier). Curious about these unquestionably physiological changes, I checked with Google to see if it was all in my mind or at least partly in my body. Surprisingly, science seems to explain some of it:
CNN notes that: “The body needs to spend energy to cool itself down, and some of that may come from the part of the brain that consumes the most energy: the prefrontal cortex, which helps people self-regulate.” This can lead to anger, frustration, and even aggression (Yes, minus the aggression).
Physically, the need for extra hydration can lead to lower blood pressure (and mine is already quite low), which can cause lightheadedness (yup) and exhaustion (definitely) according to the Wall Street Journal.
Web MD tells me that “If there's more moisture in the air, it results in reduced oxygen levels.” This makes breathing more difficult (check).
The NIH confirms that prolonged periods of heat can cause heat stress. “Psychological symptoms can include stress, irritability, sleep disturbances, reduced motivation, decreased mood and enjoyment, and agitation.” (should have my name besides this one).
It’s quite comforting to know that my adverse reaction to the not-so-hot-fun in the summertime is not entirely in my head, but resides in my body’s understandable reaction. Of course the remedies are obvious, and precisely what I normally do in these dog days:
avoiding the sun in the hottest part of the day, wearing minimal clothing, hydrating, carrying a fan, and running for the sanctuary of air conditioning as much as possible.
I try to adapt, make the most of it, and embrace the abundant Vitamin D. As tempting as it is to reverse-hibernate like a confused grizzly bear, I won’t stay in my den all summer. A season won’t daunt me into submission.