Feeling Extra Down This September? It’s Not Just You It’s “Autumn Anxiety”

Many of us may be feeling our mood starting to change as autumn approaches, some excited for holidays and cozy nights in, others experiencing a new low mood and feelings of anxiety and depression as soon as September starts.

Dr. Clare Morrison terms this “Autumn Anxiety”. She describes this as a tendency for people to feel increased anxiety and a low mood during the autumn months. This can be seen in symptoms such as: 

• Low mood and depression
• Anxiety and excessive worry
• Irritability
• Lethargy, sleepiness and fatigue
• Loss of interest in everyday activities

There is a pretty rational explanation for these symptoms. Sunlight exposure starts to lessen which leads to less serotonin, and in contrast to that as the weather gets colder melatonin levels increase causing a sleepy and low mood. Your chance of sun exposure lessens which also affects your ability to get the vitamin D you need. 

Societal factors can come into play too, feeling like you’re starting a new year, the start of school, summer being over, spending less time with friends or outside, going through a transition, and getting generally less exercise due to the changing climate.

However Autumn Anxiety isn’t actually a scientifically diagnosable condition, people are more familiar with the condition SAD (seasonal affective disorder). The days get shorter, the sun goes down sooner, and some who regularly struggle with SAD or mental health issues are getting anxious over the thought of winter coming knowing it will poorly affect their mental health.

For the employees working from home anxiety can worsen from not being able to go back to work and staying at home ruminating especially if this is a newer adjustment that occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People that have now transitioned to working more remotely rather than being in an office or a school, now may be suffering due to losing that daily structure, and thus lost the incentive to leave their house and be around others as well.

How can we combat “Autumn Anxiety” and SAD?

Ensuring you get physical exercise every day, trying to be outside and awake when it’s bright out for as long as you can, and trying to create some structure with a daily routine that works for you. If you are experiencing SAD, professional help is a great idea. CBT therapy has been shown to be effective as well as antidepressants.

Feeling the Autumn Blues or “SAD”? Let us help you before it gets worse. Call us at any time at 1 866 491 3337 or email us at info@muskokarecovery.ca.