Does Changing Weather Affect Addiction?
It might sound trivial, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest that changing weather can have a significant impact on an individual’s struggles with addiction. While summer may bring about greater social pressures and heightened anxiety, winter’s shorter days and colder weather often contribute to isolation and low mood. Both seasons can therefore introduce unique challenges that may increase the risk of relapse for those who are battling addiction.
In this blog, we’ll explore how changes to the seasons can significantly impact addiction, and how New Leaf Recovery can help individuals build resilience and sustain their recovery all year-round.
The Winter Blues
Most of us, to some degree or another, will admit to feeling more ‘down’ during the winter months. The colder temperature, shorter days and gloomier weather of the winter months contrast sharply with the warmer weather and longer days of summer. This can lead to lower mood, whilst also contributing to having less motivation to spend time outdoors. This change of mood can indirectly impact addiction in a number of ways.
With fewer opportunities to socialise outdoors and an increased sense of isolation, wintertime can be an especially difficult period for those looking to maintain sobriety. Individuals battling with addiction may depend significantly on their support network to help them resist cravings and avoid triggers.
However, with the chillier weather and shorter days naturally discouraging outdoor activities, this can work to distance people from their friends and family. The drearier weather of the winter months can therefore heighten feelings of loneliness and isolation for many, worsening their mental health and placing them at greater risk of relapse.
In addition, the tendency to rely on indoor gatherings to escape the cold—such as dinners, holiday parties, and gatherings at bars or restaurants—can also present challenges for those attempting to avoid environments where alcohol may be present. For individuals struggling with addiction, these circumstances can quickly become difficult to navigate, increasing the risk of relapse and further isolating them from support networks.
Winter-Onset Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
For many people, the lack of sunlight and colder temperatures associated with winter can have a direct impact on mental health, sometimes leading to a condition known as Winter-Onset Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This form of SAD is often triggered by the reduced daylight hours and colder weather, which can disrupt the body's natural rhythms and impact neurotransmitter levels, contributing to symptoms of depression. The symptoms of Winter-Onset SAD can include:
- Persistent sadness or hopelessness
- Fatigue and low energy
- Oversleeping or struggling to wake up in the morning
- Increased appetite and craving for carbohydrate-rich foods
- Withdrawal from social activities
These symptoms can make it more challenging for individuals to stay connected to friends, family, and support systems, creating a cycle of isolation and depression. For those recovering from addiction, this pattern can be particularly harmful, as it may increase the likelihood of turning to substances to cope. Additionally, the tendency to oversleep and avoid physical activities can leave individuals feeling unmotivated and lethargic, further impacting mental health and weakening one’s resistance to triggers and cravings.
Summer FOMO
With this in mind, you may think that summertime is therefore an easier period for individuals struggling with addiction, a time when they can get outdoors, enjoy longer days, exercise more, and socialise with friends and family. However, this can very easily have the opposite effect. With summertime typically presenting more opportunities for socialising, this can make it difficult for individuals looking to isolate themselves to remain sober and resist cravings. From family barbecues to festivals and evenings spent in beer gardens with friends, the warmer weather presents plenty of opportunities for drinking, which can very easily lead to relapse.
For an individual battling addiction, the fear of missing out, or “FOMO”, during this time of the year can lead them to take more risks with their mental health, placing themselves in social situations where their triggers and cravings are more exposed. Whether it’s FOMO, not wanting to say ‘no’ to fiends and family, or simply wanting to spend more time with loved ones, the summer period can definitely pose challenges to one’s mental health and invariably impact addiction.
Summer-Onset Seasonal Affective Disorder
For others however, the summer weather may bring about the opposite problem. With the stronger heat levels, those who do not enjoy summer weather may find themselves more isolated as they seek to escape the scorching sun. With the greater pressure around social gatherings, those who struggle with anxiety may also find themselves more isolated during this period.
This could be exacerbated by other issues such as body image issues. What with the skimpier clothing that people typically wear in summertime - which tends to reveal a lot of skin – those who are less body-confident may be less inclined to socialise and spend time outdoors.
Whatever the reason, the warmer weather associated with summertime can just as easily impact one’s mental health as the colder weather can in winter months. This can amount to what is known as Summer-Onset Seasonal Affective Disorder for some. Those who suffer from this disorder may experience symptoms such as:
- Sleeplessness
- Social Anxiety
- Decreased appetite
- Agitation
All of these symptoms can be worsened by the above factors. Whether it’s aversion to the heat or susceptibility to social anxiety, warmer weather can certainly encourage those who already struggle with their mental health to further retreat indoors, placing them at greater risk of relapse due to social and physical isolation.
Weather and Addiction: How New Leaf Can Help
At New Leaf Recovery, we understand that addiction can be intensified by the changing seasons. Our tailored treatment programmes are designed to address these unique challenges, whether they stem from seasonal depression, social pressures, or isolation. With a holistic approach that combines individual and group counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and supportive therapies like acupuncture and meditation, we help you tackle addiction from both mental and physical perspectives.
New Leaf Recovery offers flexible options, including 7-day to 28-day programmes, ensuring that you receive care that aligns with your personal needs and commitments. By focusing on long-term recovery, we empower you or your loved one to regain control, overcome digital or substance dependency, and build a healthier, more fulfilling life. Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive treatment options and take your first step towards sustained, long-lasting recovery.