The transition from summer to fall triggers measurable increases in anxiety and depression, with research showing that 64% of people experience post-holiday blues and mental health challenges can spike by up to 25% during seasonal transitions. This phenomenon, which therapists now recognize as “August anxiety” or “autumn anxiety,” affects everyone from students facing school transitions to adults mourning the loss of summer freedom, creating what mental health professionals describe as the “Sunday night of the year.”

Key Takeaways

• August anxiety affects 64% of people, with therapists reporting increased client presentations during the last week of August through early September
• Students missing school due to mental health show 56.93% higher depression scores and 52.32% higher anxiety symptoms
• Post-vacation depression symptoms include lack of motivation (27%), sadness (21%), and wanderlust (21%), with recovery typically taking up to one week
• Light therapy using 10,000-lux boxes for 20-30 minutes daily proves as effective as CBT for seasonal mood disorders
• Professional intervention becomes necessary when symptoms last more than two weeks or interfere with daily functioning. Read More: https://unfiltereddose.com/the-seasonal-scaries-are-real-how-to-deal-when-the-end-of-summer-feels-like-a-breakup/