Suffering from fall anxiety? Psychologists Explain the Causes and Cures of Fall-Related Panic Attacks

With Labor Day weekend comes the unofficial end of summer and the start of back to school and back to school. For some, this change brings happy thoughts of new projects, colorful leaves and pumpkin spice, but for others the approach of cooler weather and longer days ushers in feelings of panic and doom. 'anxiety.

Psychologists call this phenomenon "autumn anxiety" and, if you have it, they offer both explanations and suggestions for dealing with your unpleasant feelings.

Why fall is a stressful time for many people.

Clocks can tick steadily over hours and days, but humans don't work that way. The measured time may be stable, but our mood and energy levels vary throughout the day and from season to season.

That's a truth you can use to maximize your productivity, but sometimes our ups and downs are a much less positive experience. Those who greet the end of summer with a sense of foreboding and sadness will know what I'm talking about. At this time of year, a significant portion of the population experiences a cluster of symptoms including sleep problems, low mood, fatigue, and anxious thoughts, which has been dubbed fall anxiety.< /p>

Why does cold weather cause so much concern and dissatisfaction among some? A group of factors may be involved. In its simplest form, fall anxiety can simply mean that you're disappointed that the sunny, vacation-filled summer period is over.

For others, lifestyle factors play an important role. I know that personally I feel sad when my daughter goes back to school and I have to start waking up in the dark again at 6am. If work is a stressor for you, returning to a busier, more professional time of year can be a source of anxiety.

But there are also larger cultural and biological factors at play. In much of the Western world, at least a dozen years of schooling cause us to associate September with transitions and new departures. For some, this makes it an energizing time of year filled with new possibilities. But for those who struggled in school or generally find change difficult, it can induce anxiety.

"It's a phenomenon that usually occurs around event anniversaries," psychologist Patricia Thorntorn explained to Healthline. "Sometimes it's just a memory of a feeling at the time of the birthday that can invoke feelings, and you might not know why you're feeling anxious or depressed. There's a body awareness and an awareness oblivious that, 'Oh, it's usually a tough time, so I'm going to have a tough time again.'"

Finally, there are physiological reasons why the return of darker, colder months can cause a drop in mood. For those suffering from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), the end of summer is a reminder of the likely difficulties to come. But even if winter doesn't make you clinically depressed, the shorter days are likely to affect your brain chemistry.

"As the days get shorter and we have less and less exposure to daylight, our levels of…critical neurotransmitters drop," notes teacher and therapist Jennifer King in a lengthy Medium article describing the effects of sunlight. autumnal anxiety on our brain. and bodies.

How to Fight Your Fall Panic

The list of potential causes of fall anxiety may be long, but fortunately so is the list of simple yet effective methods to combat it. All the usual mood boosters can be effective, experts say, including: