Over 19% of American adults experienced an anxiety disorder in the past year. For some people, anxiety symptoms are tied to certain triggers—like being in social settings, driving, or even the sun setting.
Sunset anxiety is exactly as it sounds: a rise in anxiety symptoms as the sun goes down. But, this type of anxiety isn’t a medical diagnosis, which can make it difficult for people to understand why they’re feeling this way.
Anxiety and Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
Who Is More Likely To Have Sunset Anxiety?
People who are sensitive to light and have ananxiety disordermay feel their mood drop in the evenings, along with the sun, Saltz said. “It may be that you associate end of day with end of opportunities to do things you wanted to do and didn’t get to do—either work-wise or recreationally or relationship-wise,” she added.
“It is a feeling as nightfall approaches of increased anxiety or worrying, or it may feel like a sad worry, as though there is loss,” Saltz said. Sunset anxiety can also cause people to feel uneasy, scared, or worried that they didn’t do enough during the day, she added.
The evening may also be a time when your mind is finally quiet after being busy at work or during your day, saidThea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical psychologist, assistant professor at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, and co-host of theMind in Viewpodcast. “Anxiety can start to creep in during those times,” she said.
Another factor? Being a parent to young kids. “For those people, nighttime means gearing up for the toughest part of your day,” Gallagher said, as making dinner, bath time, bedtime, and nighttime awakenings can all be big stressors for parents.
What Is Severe Anxiety?
When Is Sunset Anxiety Most Likely To Occur?
Sunset anxiety can be particularly grueling in the winter when there are fewer hours of sunlight in the day, Gallagher said.
“You may start your workday when it’s dark and end it when it’s dark,” she added. “That can make some people feel trapped.”
One study, published in the journalPsychiatry Researchin August, determined that the internal clock plays a role in when an anxiety-prone person’s worries peak during the day. The researchers discovered that night owls are more likely to have symptoms of anxiety in the evenings compared to early birds.
Coping With the Everyday Struggles of High-Functioning Anxiety
Is Sunset Anxiety Linked To Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Sunset anxiety is different fromseasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form ofdepressionthat happens during seasons when there are fewer daylight hours. But there may be overlap.
“A subset of people with anxiety in the evenings especially clearly have it worsen significantly in the fall into winter when the days get shorter and there is less daylight,” Saltz said. “When that happens every year, those people likely have SAD.”
How Seasonal Affective Disorder is Diagnosed
Are There Ways To Cope With Sunset Anxiety?
Having sunset anxiety may be a symptom of a larger anxiety disorder, Gallagher said. If your anxiety feels unmanageable, it may be helpful to consult a mental health provider about a formal diagnosis and next steps.
Gallagher said that lifestyle tweaks may help, too. “Shifting around your schedule so you can get your body moving during the day may help—that can make you feel less like you’re trapped inside all day,” she added. “Even when it’s cold, there are benefits to getting outside and being in the sunlight.”
What Are the Best Medications for Anxiety and Depression?
What This Means For YouSunset anxiety isn’t an official diagnosis, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. If you find your anxiety increases in the evening and your symptoms are interfering with your life, it may be best to consult a mental health professional.
What This Means For You
Sunset anxiety isn’t an official diagnosis, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. If you find your anxiety increases in the evening and your symptoms are interfering with your life, it may be best to consult a mental health professional.
3 Sources
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National Institute of Mental Health.Any anxiety disorder.
National Institute of Mental Health.Seasonal affective disorder.
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