Summer SAD

Tonight I didn't realize until 10:45pm that I hadn't eaten dinner yet. Granted, I've eaten dinner later than that before, but that's usually because of work or some other obligation, or my taking too long to cook dinner. This time it's because my appetite disappeared some time yesterday, so I completely forgot that I hadn't eaten anything.

This loss of appetite seems to happen to me every summer and in response to stressful situations. (It also happens when I'm sick. Right now all three - summer, stress, and sick - apply.)

It isn't too bad yet - I can still make myself eat something, although not much more than a piece of fruit or a cup of yogurt in the place of a meal. I remember last year one time when I lost my appetite, and eating half a piece of dried mango was all I could handle in a day.

Together with this loss of appetite, I suffered from insomnia last night, which made me wonder if there were something wrong with me. Apparently my symptoms, together with the gradual weight loss I am experiencing, could indicate Summer SAD (seasonal affective disorder), a rare form of the affliction that usually occurs during winter time.

I don't really know what's wrong with me, but the biologist in me can't help but think about the neurons in my brainstem and how they're miscommunicating, that would result in me not being able to sleep at night or not want to eat. (Of course the problem could reside elsewhere.) Sometimes when I'm feeling an anxiety or panic attack coming on, I think about the levels of cortisol in my blood rising. I guess I'll always think like that no matter what I do after grad school.

Oh, and by the way, I just thought I'd share something I learned through my Googling efforts tonight about SAD. "Stomachs" are a symptom of seasonal winter depression, according to this article on www.teenhealthcenter.com.