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Come the first signs of spring every year, Im hit with a strange sense of unease.
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Iwake up irritableand unsettled, restless but tired.
But it turns out, Im not the only one who gets thrown off come early spring.
And its almost entirely overlooked.
The truth is, many of us experience a mismatch between how weexpectto feel and how we actually do.
The coming of spring is forecast as a joyous event.
So if you’re free to relate, youre far from alone.
Change is psychologically stressful, and the seasons are no exception.
The transition can be especially rocky if you’re someone who hates endings (so long, winter!)
or runs more anxious.
You might feel overwhelmed, like youre being dragged into spring before youre ready.
Or you might buzz with restive energy that you dont know what to do with, Dr. Sharp says.
There are also real biological changes that can contribute to you generally feeling off.
Its 60 degrees and sunny one day, then drizzly and freezing the next.
Its dizzying, Dr. Sharp says.
Some of us struggle more with that whiplash and unpredictability.
Onestudyusing five years of survey data on 1.9 million US adults found that increasing temperatures significantly reduce well-being.
Some of us trulyenjoythe quiet,cozy solitude of winter.
So you might get a little bummed when that cold-weather cocoon starts to dissolve.
This goes double if youre attaching a bunch of shoulds to the extra daylight and warmer weather.
Some people also experience pressure to be more productive, Dr. Bacow saysstarting new projects or springcleaning.
All that pressure can definitely contribute to stress, anxiety, anddepression, Dr. Bacow says.
Along with causing sneezing and itchy eyes, springallergiesmight affect your mental health.
Allergic reactions trigger an inflammatory response in the body, Dr. Sharp explains.
And theres a growing body ofresearchcorrelatinginflammationwith depression and anxiety.
(People who didn’t experience summertime mood shifts didnt seem to be affected by pollen counts.)
And reverse SAD can read alotlike anxiety.
Everybody’s mood varies, and having variability is okay, Dr. Sharp says.
But thankfully, it also doesn’t have to totally suck.
Here are some tips for actually managing your springtime stress and anxiousness.
Facing a seasonal shift in your mood is much easier when you see it coming, Dr. Sharp explains.
Look back on previous years and see if theres a pattern.
And you canprepare for it.
Be proactive about weathering and welcoming the change in season.
Its better to be in the drivers seat, Dr. Sharp says.
He recommends making a plan that includes some form ofself-careyou enjoy.
Dont expect yourself to gleefully leap into spring at the first sign of sunshine and birds.
Pace yourself and take the time you should probably adjust.
Dr. Sharp suggests taking small, intentional steps to help yourself embrace the season at your own pace.
Change is hard, Dr. Bacow says.
The only way to get through a transition is to be kind to yourself and patient with yourself.
Spring holidays and celebrations can help us mark and process the passage of winter into spring.
We have these gatherings that humans create meaning around that help us with this transition, Dr. Sharp says.
Or create your ownritual.
Host a Hello, spring dinner with friends.
Make a flower crown.
Journal on what youll miss about winter and what youre looking forward to in spring or summer.
Hell, swap out your broody winter playlist for one with fresh tunes.
Theres no reason to struggle alone.
One parting tip from a fellow springtime sufferer?
Remind yourself its not gonna last forever.
(Thatskind ofthe whole deal with seasons, come to think of it.)
Itll be summerthen fall, then winterbefore you know it.
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