Summer is supposed to be carefree, energizing, and full of joy—or so we're told. But what if you’re feeling low, disconnected, anxious, or just off? You’re not broken. You’re not the only one. At Sprout Therapy PDX, we see this every year: summer doesn’t feel light for everyone, and that’s okay.

Why Summer Can Feel Hard Even though the days are longer and the sun is out, summer can bring unique emotional stressors:

Disrupted routines or lack of structure
Pressure to be social or active when you’re exhausted
Heightened body image stress or dysphoria
Increased isolation for students, teachers, or caregivers without built-in communities
Financial strain from travel, activities, or childcare
Political stress and concerns about current world events

These don’t go away just because the weather is nice. In fact, the contrast between how you're told to feel and how you actually feel can make it worse.

You're Not “Wasting” Summer If you’ve spent more days indoors than outdoors, more time resting than adventuring, more energy surviving than celebrating—that doesn’t mean you’ve failed summer. It means you're responding to your life honestly.

Therapy can help you:

Name the root of the "off" feeling
Rebuild supportive routines
Process burnout, transitions, or grief that summer has stirred up
Give yourself permission to feel what’s actually true

Mental Health Doesn’t Take a Vacation It’s okay if things feel heavy in July or August. It’s okay if you feel like you’re “catching up” or can’t fully access rest. Mental health doesn’t follow a seasonal calendar. You deserve support now—not just when things fall apart.

Final Thoughts You’re not alone if summer hasn’t felt joyful. You don’t need to force sunshine when you’re under a cloud. There’s space for all of it—and we’re here to hold it with you.

If summer has left you feeling off, disconnected, or unsure where to begin, Sprout Therapy PDX is here to help. Reach out today to get matched with a therapist who gets it.

Feeling Off This Summer? You’re Not Alone