Are You Really Okay? As the First Half of the Year Draws to a Close, the “I’m Still Fine” Mindset May Be Leading You Straight to Your Breaking Point Promotions, new jobs, transfers, relocations. Roughly two months have passed since the start of the new fiscal year in April, a season marked by major life and workplace changes. Many people are probably breathing a sigh of relief, thinking, “I somehow made it through the busiest period.” But according to psychiatrist Hisashi Katsuhisa, director of Ningyocho Mental Clinic, this is precisely when dedicated employees, highly responsible workers, and mid-career managers who are relied upon by others are at the greatest risk. “The harder someone works, the less likely they are to notice the signs of ‘June syndrome’ themselves. By the time they finally seek medical help, many have already progressed beyond adjustment disorder and are approaching clinical depression.” So what exactly is June syndrome, and why should those who made it through May be especially concerned? More serious than “May Syndrome”? The hidden danger of “June Syndrome” With the first half of 2026 coming to a close this month, spring—a season marked by new jobs, transfers, and other major life changes—is widely recognized as a time when the psychological strain of adjusting to a new environment can manifest as “May syndrome” (gogatsu-byo). However, Dr. Hisashi Katsu warns against the very notion that if you’ve made it through May, you’re in the clear. “May syndrome tends to affect younger employees, especially new hires. By contrast, many mid-career employees and managers, who manage to push through the stress of spring, develop what’s known as ‘June syndrome’ a little later.” May syndrome appears in May; June syndrome appears in June. Beyond the difference in timing—and the types of people most likely to develop them—the two conditions also differ in important ways. “Major environmental changes typically occur in April, and around the Golden Week holidays people begin experiencing anxiety, low mood, and difficulty adjusting to work. That’s May syndrome, which medically corresponds to adjustment disorder. By contrast, when stress continues to accumulate over a longer period, people can progress beyond adjustment disorder, developing symptoms such as persistent fatigue, lack of motivation, and poor concentration that raise concerns about depression.” How does the passage of roughly two months since April contribute to this progression? “When someone continues enduring stress for more than two months, the accumulated damage can begin affecting the brain, causing symptoms to worsen. Many patients who come to us in June have already progressed beyond adjustment disorder, and we have to determine whether they’ve entered the territory of clinical depression.” Because adjustment disorder and depression share many symptoms, it is difficult to distinguish between them on your own. So how can people tell which stage they are in? “Imagine stress as a weight and your emotional resilience as a spring. With adjustment disorder, the spring stretches while the weight (stress) is applied, causing anxiety and depressive feelings. Once the weight is removed, the spring returns to its original length. With depression, however, the spring has been stretched beyond its capacity. Even after the weight is removed, it doesn’t return to normal.” So how can someone tell in everyday life whether their spring is bouncing back? According to Dr. Katsu, the clearest indicator is how they spend their days off. “People with adjustment disorder can generally still enjoy hobbies or refresh themselves on their days off. But if you find that even on weekends you can’t get your body moving, or you have no motivation to do anything at all, that’s a warning sign. At that point, it’s best to consult a physician.”