Don’t Let Summer Trigger Anxiety
Posted on: May 21st, 2014
Anxiety Disorder
Most of us look forward to summer. Students enjoy a break from academics and after- school activities. Parents appreciate less structured days and a break from shuttling children back and forth. Families take vacation and spend time outdoors. On the surface, it would seem that summer is a great stress reducer as people find the time to enjoy activities and slow down. Ironically, for those suffering from anxiety disorder, summer can have quite the opposite effect.
People with anxiety disorder actually benefit from structure in their day and can find summer a challenging time. WebMD notes that anxiety disorders affect 18% of adults and are the most common mental disorder in the United States. Although there are various types of anxiety disorders, typically they are characterized by anxiety that leads to a disruption in day-to-day activities and the normal pace of daily life. So, when summer comes along and one’s day has even less routine, anxiety disorder can worsen.
The prospect of a vacation may trigger anxiety disorder as well. From planning the logistics of the trip to navigating an unfamiliar environment, a vacation can feel overwhelming. Mealtimes get moved around and eating new foods can cause added stress. There are planes to catch and cabs to hail. Everyone around you may feel compelled to enjoy every moment and do every activity leaving you no downtime to recharge. Even returning from vacation has its challenges as there will likely be papers piling up and a backlog of emails to read.
A Time to Rebalance your Life
I often tell my clients that summer is an opportunity to rebalance their hectic lives. The goal is to have some structure in the daily routine, but to also have some unscheduled time for recreation that can enrich your life. For those with anxiety disorder, the key is to make small adjustments so you don’t go too far outside your comfort zone too quickly. Try taking a vacation that offers a few classes, like painting or cooking so that you have some structured time should the schedule become too frenetic. Rethink the length of your vaction. Go on a long weekend and see how that feels. You can always increase your next vacation to one week or longer. Or consider a staycation with day trips. This way you can venture out and enjoy new sights and experiences, but then return to your home, a comfortable environment, instead of a new space you’ll need to adjust to.
So don’t let the prospect of summer trigger your anxiety. Make some small changes and enjoy it. However, if you’re feeling overwhelmed and need relief, contact Maureen Kritzer-Lange Psychotherapy at info@maureenkritzerlange.com, or phone (973) 313-1691.
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