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Dealing with anxiety in winter

Begin by naming one way anxiety is affecting your day, then consider a calm conversation about your options.

If this is close to what you’ve been living with, start with one conversation. You don’t have to be in crisis, and you don’t have to know what to call it. That’s our job.

Created by Tim Francis, SUD and Mental Health Content Specialist

Updated

You deserve room to understand what is changing and decide what kind of support feels right.

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Original article

Learning about anxiety support for women or exploring admissions at Women’s Recovery can help you consider care on your terms.

Seasonal anxiety occurs when the change of weather affects a person’s mental well-being. For many, the winter season can cause an increase in anxiety symptoms due to reduced sunlight and colder temperatures. It can be difficult to cope with the decrease in energy and motivation during this time, leading to feelings of depression and anxiety.

Although anxiety can happen anytime, this topic can be incredibly hard due to the isolation you may feel from being inside throughout the season. If you need help with your condition, an anxiety treatment program at Women’s Recovery in Colorado can help.

Winter anxiety symptoms include:

  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Difficulty sleeping

It is essential to consult a professional for help if you are dealing with these symptoms. Women’s Recovery can offer specialized anxiety treatment for winter anxiety, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). These therapies can help you identify and work through your anxious thoughts and feelings and learn the skills needed to manage the symptoms of your condition. Call 833.754.0554 today for more information.

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How to Overcome Winter Anxiety

In addition to seeking professional help, there are many things you can do to help limit your anxiety during the winter months when there is less daylight and colder temperatures. You can address your symptoms by engaging in stimulating activities, getting professional help at a women’s outpatient treatment program, or undergoing holistic therapy.

Massage Therapy

Sore muscles, stress at work and home, and the cold weather can trigger your anxiety. Massage therapy can make dealing with anxiety in the winter much more manageable. If you undergo massage one to three times a week, you may notice a significant difference in how you feel mentally and physically.

A massage therapist can reduce stress and help you relax while promoting healing and overall wellness. In addition, massage therapy produces positive energy and promotes spiritual healing and self-improvement. Substance abuse treatment programs often include massage therapy to help clients with co-occurring disorders like addiction and anxiety.

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Practice Journaling

You may not know why you have a hard time this topic. Journaling helps you better know yourself and express your thoughts and feelings. When you journal, you discover what is going on inside you, causing your feelings of anxiety. Journaling also helps you to take control of your thoughts. Your anxiety then becomes more manageable. Journaling can help you redirect your thoughts through a sort of self-talk therapy.

Try Acupuncture

How does acupuncture help with anxiety and depression? In traditional Chinese medicine, “qi” is the energy that flows through your body. Qi flows through your body on channels that specialists call meridians. When the energy is blocked, you may experience emotional symptoms. The symptoms can become more intense if you suffer from seasonal anxiety.

Acupuncture targets areas where the flow of energy is blocked to stimulate the flow once again. The technique can help ease anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as treat any underlying causes of your winter anxiety.

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Seek Professional Help

If you have severe anxiety, you may want to seek counseling or therapy during the winter months. A mental health program offers a variety of professional treatments, such as:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
  • Dialectical behavior therapy
  • Individual therapy
  • Group therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Holistic treatment

Get Some Sleep

There are several things you can do to improve your sleep. For instance, avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. They all interfere with a good night’s sleep. Also, create an environment that allows you to sleep. Draw the shades, set the thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees, invest in a comfortable mattress and pillow, and reduce noise as much as possible. Last, set a consistent sleep schedule and try to eliminate napping from your daily routine.

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Oil Diffusers and Essential Oils

While essential oils do not cure anxiety, they can relieve psychological and physical symptoms linked to depression. Exposure to essential oils can improve your sleep and produce a calming effect. Essential oils can reduce the symptoms of anxiety.

Some of the most popular essential oils aromas include lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint, grapefruit, frankincense, and balsam. These have a significant effect on your mood and can relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety. Try adding a few drops of essential oil to your diffuser and enjoy the relaxing aroma that will help you relax.

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Take Care of Yourself

Take a break from the demands of your life and look for ways to relax. Get enough rest, balance sleep and exercise, eat healthy, and practice self-care. Make time for activities you love, like painting or reading. Taking care of your body helps to reduce stress and winter anxiety symptoms.

Are You this topic? Contact Women’s Recovery

If you are this topic and need anxiety treatment in Colorado, we can help. Contact Women’s Recovery at 833.754.0554 or contact us online to learn more about our anxiety treatment program. Let our treatment professionals help you with winter anxiety.

Common questions

Explore articles on mental health and substance use and mental health treatment for women in Denver for related guidance. Call admissions when you want to discuss your own situation.

Call Admissions
01 Can anxiety really be seasonal?

Winter-only anxiety can happen, but a seasonal pattern is worth noticing rather than dismissing. Track how long the changes last and how they affect sleep, work, relationships, and daily routines. Care can help you understand the pattern and choose support that fits your needs.

02 What should I do when winter anxiety makes it hard to start the day?

Start with one manageable action, such as opening the curtains, stepping outside briefly, eating something nourishing, or contacting someone you trust. Small actions may interrupt avoidance. If anxiety remains persistent or disruptive, professional support can offer more durable ways to respond.

03 When does staying home during winter become concerning?

Fear that repeatedly keeps you home, leads you to avoid necessary activities, or causes intense distress deserves attention. Appropriate care can help you understand what drives the avoidance and gradually rebuild confidence while respecting your pace and choices.

04 Can winter anxiety and depression happen together?

Yes. Anxiety and depression can occur together, and winter changes may include worry, sadness, low energy, withdrawal, or reduced interest. You do not need to determine the right label yourself. A mental health professional can help clarify what you are experiencing and discuss suitable care.

05 How can I talk with Women’s Recovery?

You can call Women’s Recovery at 833.754.0554 for a conversation about your concerns, questions, and possible next steps. Women’s Recovery is located at 3801 E Florida Ave, Ste 650, Denver, CO 80210.

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Supporting health information

Read how we select health information sources and apply the Women’s Recovery editorial policy. These references provide general education and context; they do not establish an individual diagnosis, service, or treatment recommendation.

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