There’s a name for the dip in mood some people experience, but it’s fixable!
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| In last week’s feature, we talked about squeezing the most out of summer’s final weeks. This week, we look at what some people have to cope with as the fall takes hold, when a real, recurring dip in mood and anxiety shows up without an obvious cause. It has a name, and, more usefully, there is a short list of things that can reliably help. |
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Let’s look into it,
Tim Snaith
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |
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Written by Tim Snaith
September 16, 2026 • 3 min read |
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Every year, as summer fades, some people notice a low mood and rising anxiety with no obvious cause. UK general practitioner Clare Morrison has a name for it: autumn anxiety. Unlike ordinary anxiety, it tends to show up without a trigger and recur at the same time each year.
What’s behind it
☀️ Less light, less feel-good fuel. Shorter days lowers serotonin and vitamin D while melatonin rises, a combination that saps mood and energy.
😰 Anticipatory anxiety. Psychologist Patricia Thornton notes that early-autumn anxiety can stem from worry about the seasonal affective disorder (SAD) symptoms that a person expects will follow.
🔄 The transition itself. A new routine, a new school year, or any disruption to familiar, normal life can all be unsettling in their own right, separate from the change in sunlight.
😔 Regret and dread. A summer that didn’t go as planned, or the approach of a complicated holiday season, can add to the mix.
What can help
🌤️ Getting outside, especially in the morning. Even a light box, used 30 minutes a day, is a reasonable substitute when mornings are too dark.
🚶 Move most days. Morrison recommends around 30 minutes, in whatever form. Research on exercise and mental health backs this up, linking regular movement to better mood and sleep even in short daily doses.
🛋️ Think of your indoor environment as cozy, not confining. Going hobbit mode with a blanket, better lighting, small deliberate comforts, makes staying in feel like a choice rather than an imposition.
If you think it’s more than a seasonal dip
Both experts agree this isn’t something to just wait out if the change in your mood becomes genuinely disruptive. Cognitive behavioral therapy and, where appropriate, antidepressants are established treatments for anxiety and SAD. Morrison’s advice: don’t wait until things get dark to see a doctor. |
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| 🍂 Over to you: Which season do you find most difficult? Email wellnesswire@healthline.com to share with us! |
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| Until next time, |
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Take care of yourself, and we’ll see
you again soon! |
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