When we think of spring, most of us picture blooming flowers, longer days, and renewed energy. For many, it’s a welcome break from the heaviness of winter. But for others, spring doesn’t bring relief—it brings a unique and often misunderstood shift in mood: springtime depression.
While Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is usually associated with the colder, darker months, a lesser-known variation—reverse SAD—can strike in the spring or summer. And yes, it’s real.
What Is Springtime Depression?
Springtime depression, or reverse SAD, is a form of seasonal affective disorder that occurs during the transition into spring or summer. While winter SAD is typically linked to low energy, oversleeping, and sluggishness, springtime depression can look and feel very different.
Common symptoms include:
- Heightened anxiety or irritability
- Trouble sleeping or insomnia
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
- Restlessness or agitation
- A sense of disconnect (“I should feel better, but I don’t”)
- Feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or low mood
If you’re feeling low just as the world seems to be coming alive, you’re not alone and you’re not broken.
Why Does Spring Trigger Depression for Some People?
The truth is, your brain and body may need more time to adjust than the outside world suggests. A few contributing factors:
- Biological rhythm disruption: Longer days can throw off melatonin production and circadian rhythms, especially if you already struggle with sleep.
- Pressure to feel better: There’s an unspoken cultural expectation that spring = happiness. If you’re not feeling it, that contrast can deepen your despair.
- Allergies and inflammation: Believe it or not, seasonal allergies may increase inflammation and impact mood and cognition.
- Life transitions: Spring often brings big changes—school endings, relocations, fiscal year shifts—that can stir up stress or grief.
How to Cope With Springtime Depression
If you’re experiencing symptoms, here are some supportive ways to manage:
1. Validate your experience.
You don’t need to “snap out of it” or explain your mood to anyone. Your feelings are valid—even if they don’t match the season.
2. Prioritize rest and rhythm.
Stick to a consistent sleep and wake schedule. Circadian rhythm regulation (like going to bed at the same time or limiting blue light before bed) can help ease mood swings.
3. Limit comparison.
Social media feeds will be filled with picnics, hikes, and sunny smiles. It’s okay if your reality looks different. Curate your feed, or take a break.
4. Get outside.
While nature helps, it doesn’t have to be a hike. Even sitting by an open window or taking a short walk can activate your senses and help your body regulate.
5. Seek support.
You don’t have to go through this alone. A mental health professional can help you explore treatment options like therapy, lifestyle shifts, or even medication.
Spring doesn’t feel light and hopeful for everyone and that’s okay.
At Deep Eddy Psychotherapy, we believe mental health care should be as seasonal and personal as you are. If you’re feeling out of sync this spring, our compassionate team of therapists is here to help you make sense of what you’re experiencing and guide you toward healing, on your own timeline.
Whether you’re looking for support with depression, anxiety, life transitions, or simply want a safe place to talk, we’re here. If your mood takes a dip when the flowers bloom, know that it’s not a failure. It’s a signal. And that signal deserves attention, care, and compassion—not shame.
You are not alone.