reverse seasonal affective disorder
Seasonal affective disorder (appropriately, its acronym is SAD) is a type of depression that some people experience during certain seasons, typically coming on during fall or winter and lifting during spring or summer. The thought behind it is that with unpleasant cold weather and earlier sunsets/less daylight hours, people feel lethargic, agitated, and experience decreased serotonin. When the weather is better and the sun is out more, people with SAD feel better. This makes sense, right?
I think I experience something like SAD but during the summer/warm seasons. Excessive heat and humidity makes me miserable and I go out as little as possible. When walking to the mailbox and back is enough to have my face flushed and sweat dribbling down my back, why would I choose to go outside? Electricity bills have been higher lately, so I try not to run the AC (a small window unit-type) in my office during the workday. I opt to drink water with ice in it or snack on chilled or frozen fruit to try to cool off, and this usually helps.
The thing is, I live in central/south Texas, where our hot season is... most of the year. During peak summer (which is something like June or July through September, it will be 100 degrees every single day for a week straight. From May to October, our high temperatures are regularly in the 90s (that's 32.2 Celsius). I can absolutely recall Christmases where wearing a tank top and shorts was appropriate. We do not get Winter here; if anything, our fall melds with spring from around November to March or April.
That's my favorite time of the year. That is also a very small part of the year here.
Unfortunately, I am also on an antidepressant medication. It's an SSRI, a class of medication that frequently causes heat intolerance. I also live in a place that has a lot of concrete and very little shade. Being hot and sweaty all the time makes me more irritable and unhappy. (I wonder if I lived elsewhere if I'd be happier just from the change in climate alone. I think so.)
I like when I can actually dress in layers and get some use out of my knitwear. I like when it feels good to be outside - whether there's a breeze, it's more overcast outside, or the sun isn't beating down on us. I just wish there were more days and weeks like that here. Maybe I'd enjoy going to outdoor events more or getting some physical activity in.
I hope someday I have an opportunity to live in another state... for many many reasons, but especially the weather.