Summertime Sadness: Caring for Your Mental Health in the Season of Warmth and Light
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Summer is often painted as a season of joy—beach days, road trips, late sunsets, and carefree vibes. Social media fills with smiling faces and sunkissed adventures, and we’re told this is the time to live our best lives.
But what happens when your inner world doesn’t match the energy of the season?
What if the long days feel empty, the invitations feel overwhelming, or the sun seems to shine a spotlight on everything you’re still struggling with?
You're not alone. And you’re not broken.
The Pressure to Be "Happy" in Summer Is Real
We tend to associate winter with seasonal blues, but many people quietly suffer in summer too—especially those dealing with depression, grief, trauma, burnout, or transitions. The contrast between how you think you should feel and how you actually feel can create a special kind of shame. That gap? It hurts. And it can isolate you further.
If you’re in that place, this post is for you.
1. Ditch the “Shoulds” and Name What You Feel
Mental health doesn't follow a seasonal calendar. You might be in a season of internal winter even if the world outside is glowing. Instead of judging yourself for feeling low, try gently naming what’s true:
“I feel disconnected right now.”
“I’m grieving something I don’t fully understand.”
“I’m overwhelmed, even if everything looks ‘fine.’”
Acknowledging your truth is the first act of self-compassion.
2. Make Space for Both Joy and Sorrow
Just because you're struggling doesn't mean you can't also find moments of joy. And just because it’s sunny outside doesn’t mean you have to force yourself to smile. Try replacing the pressure to be happy with the goal of being honest.
A quiet picnic, a solo walk, or letting yourself cry on the porch in the sunlight—find catharsis.
3. Tend to Your Nervous System
Longer daylight hours and shifting social rhythms can dysregulate sensitive nervous systems. Some ways to regulate:
Keep a consistent sleep schedule (sunlight can mess with melatonin)
Create micro-moments of stillness: 5-minute deep breathing, grounding, or stretching
Limit doom-scrolling or social comparison traps
Summer doesn’t have to be about doing more—it can be about feeling safe in your own body again.
4. Redefine What “Summer Fun” Means for You
Your summer doesn’t have to be bikini-clad and booked with plans. Maybe your version is:
Reading under a tree
Making art during golden hour
Saying “no” more than you say “yes”
Seeing a therapist or joining a support group
Joy doesn’t have to be loud to be real. It just has to be yours.
5. Let the Light In—On Your Terms
If you can, let the season support your healing instead of forcing yourself to perform happiness. Let the sun warm your skin when you’re ready. Let the breeze remind you that life moves, even when you feel stuck.
Healing is not linear. But summer can still hold space for your growth—even if it doesn’t look like anyone else’s.
Closing Thoughts
If this summer feels heavy, know that you're not behind, and you’re not failing. You’re just being human in a world that often forgets how much energy healing takes.
Be gentle with yourself. The world will keep spinning. Let this season be one where you come home to yourself—slowly, softly, and in your own time.
If this resonated with you and you’re craving a safe space to process the messier parts of life—especially when everyone else seems fine—I’d love to walk alongside you. I offer individual therapy sessions for women navigating emotional burnout, identity shifts, and anxiety masked as high-functioning. You don’t have to carry it alone. Learn more or book a consultation here!
About The Author
Ariette Hung is a Psychotherapist at Mindful Maelstrom with a warm, grounded approach rooted in Emotion-Focused Therapy. She integrates behavioural neuroscience and mind-body techniques like nervous system regulation, and acupuncture and tapping principles from Eastern medicine to support holistic healing. As a creative and an adult child of immigrants, Ariette brings her lived experience to the therapy room—she gets it because she’s lived it. She specializes in helping clients navigate anxiety, attachment wounds, ADHD, and relationship struggles, guiding both individuals and couples from survival mode toward emotional clarity, safety, and connection. When she’s not in session, you’ll find her spending time with friends, hosting cozy dinner parties, in a barre class, or trying the city’s best food. If you’re looking for a compassionate, experiential therapist who meets you where you are, book a session today!
