Everyone else seems excited about spring. They talk about longer days, warmer weather, and fresh starts. You try to feel the same, but something inside you tightens instead. The changing season does not bring relief. It brings anxiety.
Maybe you feel pressure to be more social, more active, more optimistic. Maybe the unpredictability of Colorado spring weather (snow one day, sun the next) mirrors the instability you feel inside. Maybe past painful events happened in spring, and your body remembers even when your mind tries to move on.
If you have been googling spring anxiety, seasonal transition anxiety Colorado, or trauma and change of seasons, you are not imagining this. Seasonal transitions can be genuinely destabilizing, especially for people with trauma histories, anxiety disorders, or nervous systems that are already overwhelmed.
At Better Lives, Building Tribes, we understand that not every season feels hopeful. This article explores why spring can trigger anxiety, how trauma affects your response to seasonal change, and how therapy can help you navigate transitions with more ease.
Why Seasonal Transitions Can Feel Destabilizing
Humans are wired to notice change, and seasonal shifts are some of the most significant environmental changes we experience. For some people, these transitions feel energizing and positive. For others, they trigger anxiety and disorientation.
Several factors contribute to spring anxiety:
Disrupted Routines
Winter often comes with predictable routines. You stay inside more. You go to bed earlier. Your social calendar is quieter. Spring disrupts these rhythms. Suddenly there are more invitations, more daylight, more pressure to be out and about. If you thrive on routine, these shifts can feel chaotic.
Pressure To Feel Happy
Spring carries cultural expectations of renewal and joy. When you do not feel that way, it can create a secondary layer of stress. You might feel guilty or broken for not matching the energy around you.
Sensory Overload
Spring brings increased light, pollen, noise (birds, lawnmowers, people outside), and changing temperatures. For people with sensory sensitivities or nervous systems that are easily overwhelmed, this can feel like too much input at once.
Anniversary Reactions
If something traumatic or painful happened in spring (a loss, a breakup, an assault, a difficult life event), your body might remember the season even if your mind has moved on. This is called an anniversary reaction, and it can bring up old feelings without you understanding why.
Increased Social Expectations
As weather improves, there are more social events, outdoor activities, and expectations to be visible and engaged. If you are introverted, socially anxious, or simply exhausted, this can feel overwhelming.
How Trauma Affects Your Response To Seasonal Change
Trauma does not just live in your memories. It lives in your body and your nervous system. When something reminds your body of past danger (even something as subtle as a change in weather or light), your nervous system can respond as if the threat is happening now.
This might look like:
- Feeling on edge or hypervigilant as the season shifts.
- Experiencing intrusive memories or flashbacks without understanding why they are surfacing now.
- Feeling disconnected from your body or emotions (dissociation).
- Having physical symptoms like racing heart, shallow breathing, or stomach upset.
- Avoiding activities or places you used to enjoy because they feel triggering.
If you have a trauma history, seasonal transitions can feel like a loss of control. Your nervous system is already working hard to keep you safe, and change (even positive change) can feel destabilizing.
Colorado Spring And Mental Health
Colorado spring is particularly unpredictable. You can wake up to snow in April, then shorts weather by afternoon. This weather volatility can mirror the internal instability some people feel during seasonal transitions.
Additionally, Colorado spring comes with:
- Altitude effects. Changes in barometric pressure and oxygen levels can affect mood and energy.
- Allergy season. Pollen and allergens can worsen anxiety symptoms and affect sleep quality.
- Cultural pressure. Colorado culture celebrates outdoor spring activities. If you do not feel up to it, you might feel left out or judged.
These factors combine to make spring feel more challenging than it “should” for some people.
Signs You Might Be Experiencing Spring Anxiety
Spring anxiety can look different from general anxiety. Some signs include:
- Feeling more anxious or irritable as the season changes, even though you cannot pinpoint why.
- Dreading social invitations or outdoor activities that others seem excited about.
- Struggling with sleep as daylight hours increase.
- Feeling pressure to be productive or happy that you cannot meet.
- Experiencing physical symptoms like headaches, stomach issues, or fatigue that worsen in spring.
- Noticing memories or emotions from past springs surfacing unexpectedly.
If several of these resonate, you might be experiencing seasonal anxiety related to the transition into spring.
How Therapy Helps With Seasonal Anxiety And Trauma
Therapy is not about forcing you to love spring or pretending anxiety does not exist. It is about understanding what is happening in your nervous system, processing what you are carrying, and building tools to navigate transitions with more ease.
At Better Lives, Building Tribes, therapy for seasonal anxiety might include:
Nervous System Regulation
We teach you how to calm your nervous system when it feels activated by seasonal change. This might include breathwork, grounding techniques, or somatic practices that help you feel more present and safe.
Processing Trauma And Anniversary Reactions
If past painful events are surfacing, we help you process them in a way that feels manageable and does not retraumatize you. Trauma informed therapy allows you to work through what you are carrying at your own pace.
Building Flexibility Around Routines
We help you create structure that supports you without becoming rigid. You learn how to adjust routines as seasons change while still honoring your need for predictability.
Challenging Internalized Pressure
We explore the beliefs you carry about how you “should” feel or behave in spring. Therapy helps you release guilt and give yourself permission to experience the season in your own way.
Creating Seasonal Self Care Plans
We work together to identify what supports your wellbeing during transitions. This might include adjusting sleep schedules, managing social commitments, or finding small rituals that help you feel grounded.
We offer virtual therapy for adults across Colorado, so you can access support from home without adding the stress of travel during an already overwhelming season.
Practical Ways To Support Yourself Through Spring Transitions
Therapy is powerful, but there are also small, concrete steps you can take on your own to ease spring anxiety.
Maintain Some Winter Routines
You do not have to overhaul your entire life just because the season changed. Keep some of the routines that helped you feel stable in winter, like cozy evenings at home or early bedtimes.
Set Boundaries Around Social Expectations
You do not have to say yes to every invitation. It is okay to decline events that feel overwhelming. Protecting your energy is not selfish.
Get Outside On Your Own Terms
If you feel pressure to participate in group outdoor activities but that feels stressful, try spending time outside alone or with one trusted person. A quiet walk can feel restorative without the social demands.
Track Patterns
If you notice spring consistently affects your mental health, start tracking your symptoms. This can help you and your therapist identify patterns and create proactive plans for future springs.
Validate Your Experience
Remind yourself that your feelings are real and valid, even if they do not match what others around you are experiencing. You do not have to justify your struggles.
How Better Lives, Building Tribes Supports You Through Seasonal Transitions
At Better Lives, Building Tribes, we understand that healing is not linear and that transitions can be hard, even when they look positive on the surface. We create space for you to feel what you feel without judgment.
Our approach is:
- Trauma informed. We understand how past experiences shape your present responses to change.
- Nervous system focused. We help you work with your body, not just your thoughts.
- Compassionate and real. We do not expect you to be perfect or pretend you are fine when you are not.
- Culturally aware. We honor how your identities and life experiences shape your relationship with seasons and transitions.
Next Steps: Navigating Spring With Support In Colorado
If spring brings anxiety instead of hope, you are not alone. Therapy can help you understand what is happening, process what you are carrying, and build tools to move through seasonal transitions with more ease.
To start therapy for seasonal anxiety with Better Lives, Building Tribes:
- Visit betterlivesbuildingtribes.com/ to learn more about our services and approach.
- Schedule a session with Dr. Meaghan Rice or another therapist on our team through the booking link on our site.
- Reach out via our contact form to ask questions or find out if we are a good fit for what you are navigating.
You do not have to force yourself to love spring. You just need support to get through it. We are here to help.
