Why do I feel anxious during back-to-school season even if I’m not in school?

Seasonal changes in routines, social energy, and environmental cues can activate the body's stress response, leading to increased anxiety or restlessness.

How can art therapy help with seasonal stress?

Art therapy provides a creative outlet for processing emotions, helps identify patterns in stress responses, and offers grounding tools to feel more balanced.

Is virtual therapy effective for seasonal anxiety?

Yes. Virtual therapy can be just as effective as in-person sessions, offering the flexibility to receive support from the comfort of your home.

What is fall anxiety?

Fall anxiety refers to increased feelings of stress, worry, or low mood that often appear as summer ends and routines shift. Shorter daylight hours, seasonal changes, and upcoming obligations can contribute to these symptoms.

What does emotional dysregulation mean?

Emotional dysregulation is when emotions feel more intense or harder to manage than usual. It can lead to mood swings, overthinking, and difficulty calming down after stress, especially during times of change.

Why Back-to-School Season Can Feel Overwhelming (Even if You’re Not in School)

Attiya Awadallah
Aug 15, 2025
3 min read

Whether you’re starting a new semester or it’s been a while since your last class, late summer can bring a mix of pressure, restlessness, and uncertainty you can’t quite explain. Maybe the summer didn’t turn out the way you hoped, or you’re realizing the year is already moving into its final stretch. Stores are filled with school supplies, the pace of life feels like it’s about to speed up, and there’s an unspoken push to “get it together” before fall.

You might notice yourself feeling more stressed or low in energy without being able to pinpoint the reason. Subtle shifts in routines, schedules, and expectations can have a real effect on mood and focus.

Why This Time of Year Can Feel So Heavy

busy street scene during new york back to school season

Our nervous systems pick up on change, even small ones. Back-to-school season often means:

Work schedules get busier
Friends and family are less available
Deadlines, projects, and expectations start to pile up

Even when your own day-to-day looks similar, the changes happening around you can stir up anxiety, irritability, or that vague feeling of being “off.” If you’ve dealt with stress or overwhelm before, these feelings can be stronger and harder to shake.

How Emotional Dysregulation Shows Up During Seasonal Transitions

Emotional dysregulation means your emotions are harder to manage or feel bigger than the situation itself. During this time of year, you might notice:

Being more irritable or impatient than usual
Feeling drained after social interactions
Having trouble concentrating or starting tasks
Overthinking small decisions or replaying past conversations

These reactions are common when the body and mind are adjusting to a new rhythm. Learn more about anxiety in young adults here.

Why Old School Memories Can Sneak Back In

This season can also bring up old experiences from your own school years without you realizing it. Maybe it’s the feeling of walking into a room where you didn’t know anyone, the pressure to perform well, or memories of difficult transitions. Even if you’ve built a completely different life since then, your nervous system can still respond as if those moments are happening now.

What You Can Do to Ease the Seasonal Pressure

art therapy tools for managing seasonal anxiety

If you’ve been feeling more on edge, here are some steps you can take right now:

Notice and name the shift. Acknowledge that your body is picking up on seasonal changes. Simply saying “This is the back-to-school energy” can help you feel less confused by your mood.
Anchor your week. Choose one consistent activity — a morning walk, Sunday night meal prep, or journaling session — that signals stability, even when other things are changing.
Create a “sensory reset.” Pick one quick grounding activity for when you feel restless:
- Hold something cold (like an ice cube or chilled water bottle)
- Listen to a calming playlist
- Draw shapes or patterns on paper for five minutes
Limit your comparison points. If social media makes you feel like everyone else had the perfect summer or is “ahead” for fall, take a break or mute accounts that trigger those thoughts.
Give emotions a creative outlet. Use color, shapes, or movement to express how you feel, even if you can’t put it into words. You don’t need to make “art” — you’re making space for your feelings to exist outside your head.
How Art Therapy Can Help During Seasonal Shifts
Art therapy combines creative expression with therapeutic support, giving you tools to:
Process emotions without having to explain them perfectly
Recognize and change patterns in how you respond to stress
Develop strategies for grounding and self-regulation that actually work for your nervous system These tools become even more powerful during transitional times like the end of summer, when your emotions may feel harder to manage. Explore art therapy here.

You Can Feel More Steady Before Fall
If this August has felt heavier than you expected, there are ways to ease that weight so you can feel more grounded heading into the new season. I work with young adults across New York through virtual sessions, using art therapy, EMDR, and somatic approaches to help with anxiety, trauma, and emotional regulation.
Together, we’ll focus on what’s affecting you right now and build tools that make transitions less overwhelming.
Book a free 15-minute consultation here.