Are you prone to this type of anxiety revealed by experts?

Winter time puts many of us in a negative state of mind. The lack of light and the dark atmosphere actually cause a drop in morale. Psychologists call this “sunset anxiety”. This “sunset anxiety” is a trending topic on social networks but does not strictly speaking refer to a clinical term: the term is associated with the feeling of anxiety when the sun sets at the end of the day.

In an article from TODAY.COMpsychotherapist Niro Feliciano sheds light on this phenomenon: “When it’s lighter for longer, people feel like they have more energy and even more hope,” she said. “So naturally, we see more people, as night falls earlier, feeling like they have less energy – and, in an existential way, less time.”

The impact of nightfall on our body and our mood

According to this expert, when night falls early, we are impacted beyond mood: These mood changes can be caused by a biological change that occurs in the body. “Because we are working on circadian rhythms, our body’s natural clock, there can actually be a hormonal shift occurring,” explain Niro Feliciano. “Our melatonin production is sensitive to light, and our body’s signals can change suddenly when daylight saving time arrives.”

There is therefore a real explanation for this sunset anxiety in the way our body reacts and the fatigue felt does exist, which can damage our mental health. When night falls, the message sent to our body is to get ready for bed! So this fatigue associated with the feeling of wasting time can cause anxiety in some people, similar to uncomfortable nervousness. Interviewed by TODAY.COM, psychiatrist Sarah Boss speaks of vulnerability: “There are no more distractions,” she explains. “In the summer, I think most people continually turn away from everything: from themselves, from their needs, from their worries, maybe from the feeling of being alone at home, and it’s so much more difficult in winter.”

How can you not let yourself be overcome by sunset anxiety?

According to experts, becoming aware of this state in which we can feel vulnerable in winter when the days get shorter can be an opportunity to try to question our personal balance: If we have the impression of running out of time in a day when night falls early, what does that say about our expectations, our needs? To then combat in a concrete way against this anxiety which takes hold of us at night, experts recommend several simple actions. First of all, you must learn to better manage your exposure to light: taking advantage of the morning more by exposing yourself to a walk or jog when you wake up can help make up for the lack of natural light.

Getting off one or two bus or metro stops before your usual exit is, for example, a simple solution to stock up on light and promote the body’s circadian rhythm, as well as overall mood. A morning workout can help increase endorphins at the time of day when the stress hormone cortisol is peaking, says Niro Feliciano. During this winter period, it is also recommended to take particular care of your sleep. Experts recommend limiting screens two hours before bedtime to ensure highly restorative sleep: “A lot of our mood depends on sleep and the quality of our sleep,” explains the psychiatrist.

Combating Sunset Anxiety Through Social Connections

Psychotherapist Niro Feliciano also explains that it is essential to fight against the natural urge to hibernate during this period. Indeed, while we are particularly exposed to changes in mood as the day falls early, we tend to isolate ourselves, which is precisely a factor in increasing anxiety and depressive states. diminish in a whirlwind of “laziness” and fatigue, whereas seeing friends would give us more energy and good humor!

How to avoid this? “It’s good to plan things to look forward to no matter what time of year it is, but especially in winter because that’s when people tend to feel a change in mood,” explain Niro Feliciano. “Especially things that involve connection with other people.” There is a feeling of joy in waiting for a meeting with friends that comes over us in anticipation. This is why, during this period, it is essential to continue to see friends to restore our good mood, while taking care to respect the advice of experts for a peaceful nighttime ritual!

Source : TODAY.COM