Season change anxiety

[Lilly24]

Does anyone else experience high anxiety through season changes/weather changes I have noticed over the last year as it gets closer to winter and dark nights i find myself in a right state i also get extremely anxious and strange when a storm is due

[TarheelBlue]

Yes! It is called Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. There’s a lot of information online fortunately, and doctors have been informed when I’ve mentioned it. Once the days start getting darker, earlier especially when you get out of work and it’s dark (I’m on east coast), it hits. January is brutal with lots of grey, overcast days. There can be some genetics at play as well. My dad has it, too. A light lamp has worked best every morning and schedule modifications. It can be a bit like holding your breath til spring, but these changes have helped me.

As for the storms, there’s some nasty ones here in the humid south so we crank up the humidifier, volume up on music/movie, turn on washing machine, close blinds, add more essential oils for calming, and hunker down next to a rescue pup who is also terrified. Fortunately, here they come on heavy and go away quickly. You’re definitely not alone!

[Lilly24 in reply to TarheelBlue]

Wow I really wasnt aware there was an actual term for it i just thought it was typical anxiety for some people. Very interesting I will have to do some research on it, I want to be able to enjoy the winter and cosy nights but unfortunately all I do is panic 😭 I used to love winter and now it feels like a long nightmare the whole time

[Hidden in reply to Lilly24]

I must be a bit of an odd ball haha as I absolutely hate summer, sunshine, warm days etc, much prefer winter and I always feel better mentally during winter mths...the dark nights and cold make me feel comforted, apparently I was born during a thunderstorm...makes me wonder?

[Lilly24 in reply to Hidden]

That used to be me I always felt much more at ease than I did in summer and I cant understand why now the tables have turned, makes me feel like a total odd ball Haha.

[Hidden in reply to Lilly24]

Hahaha...looks like we're both a couple of odd balls then at least we're not normal boring people haha

[FearIsALiar]

Yes. I also get very depressed. Doesn’t help that I’m heartbroken

[FearIsALiar]

Yes

[Kainan]

Yep. You’re not alone. I much prefer this time of year, but at the same time it’s more difficult for me mentally. Trying not to let a lot of stress build up, as I feel like that’s a major trigger. I just treat this time of year like any other.