Autumn Anxiety: The Reason Why You Feel More Stressed

Fall or Autumn Anxiety is an emotional condition that according to the experts has a tendency to rise this time of the year.

According to Dr. Clare Morrison, medical advisor at MedExpress, “Autumn anxiety is the tendency for people to suffer from anxiety and low mood during the autumn months and unlike other anxiety, there often isn’t an obvious external trigger, and it tends to recur annually”.

Today, we will look deeper into its symptomatology, triggers, and tips to ease its symptoms.

According to Dr. Morrison, most people tend to confuse Autumn Anxiety with regular anxiety, and even though these might look similar, Autumn Anxiety comes annually with the following symptoms:

• low mood and depression
• anxiety and excessive worry
• irritability
• lethargy, sleepiness, and fatigue
• loss of interest in everyday activities

 

According to Dr. Morrison, causes are various but mostly because of:

 

• Decrease of Sunlight: Which causes serotonin levels to go down, therefore making patients feel a little down.
• Increase of Melatonin: This hormone is responsible for sleepiness and it increases with seasonal sunlight decrease.
• Behavioral Changes: Due to weather conditions, people are less likely to go out and practice fun sports and outdoor activities.
• Return to School: Since children are back at school, this can represent a tighter schedule for parents, which translates into morning rushes, and overall more stress, by both finances and time.
• Holiday Pressure: Most people feel the social pressure to feel “happy” over the holidays, and for those with family issues thanksgiving can be a lot of stress and additional anxiety.

Although Autumn Anxiety comes by things totally out of our control, there are a few things that you can do to help you feel better:

• Get Light: Try to spend time outside during the daylight. Even a 15-minute break under the midday sun can represent a dramatical change in your mood. Additionally, if your city is too dark by now, consider getting a lightbox. This tool, helps you be exposed to artificial “sunlight” that will help you feel better, even in the cloudiest days.
• Work Out Daily: If it’s too cold to run on the streets, make an effort and go to your closest gym. Exercise is key across the board for mental health disorders. Every study shows improved mood after exercise, so this is a must to feel better.
• Try The Mary Kondo Method: Since fall represents a change in the season, try implementing a similar thing at home. Activities, like reorganizing, and decluttering, are proved to make you feel better and uplifted. The Mary Kondo method is a great tool to declutter and organize at home, and the best part is that it is available at Netflix. 
• Nest: There is nothing you can do regarding the weather, but you can take this opportunity to make your house cozier. Buy a few candles, invite friends over,  prepare apple cider, and even consider getting a nice pair of pajamas Adding something interesting to your home, and home wear can be a great way to make you feel warm and comfortable at home.

Remember, these are a few tools that can help you uplift your spirit and feel better. However, if you continue to feel down, we highly recommend you to seek professional medical advice. Keep in mind that your emotional health is equally important as your physical health, and giving it proper attention is key to your overall well–being. Take good care of yourself, you deserve it!

At Rehealth, we believe that having informed patients is the only way to deliver optimal healthcare. Visit our website to find out more interesting content and be a part of an amazing health integrated community!

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