Sunset Anxiety

A New View on Time & Mood

Photo by Kevin Ianeselli on Unsplash

As the days grow shorter and darkness comes earlier during autumn and winter, many people report an unsettling feeling of unease—now popularly referred to as sunset anxiety. This phenomenon reflects a creeping worry or sadness that often accompanies the transition from day to night, particularly during seasons with limited daylight. While not yet a formally recognized condition, sunset anxiety resonates with those who feel their time is slipping away with the fading light.

Interestingly, this form of anxiety is deeply tied to how we perceive time. While the hours in a day remain unchanged, shorter daylight periods can create the illusion of “lost time,” triggering feelings of helplessness, guilt, or even existential dread. These thought patterns may also be a vestige of primal childhood feelings of dread tied to fears of darkness and the unknown. While Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) often gets attention during these months, sunset anxiety may not be rooted in light exposure alone. Instead, it may be driven by cognitive distortions about time and productivity—making it a prime candidate for intervention using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

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Understanding Sunset Anxiety

At its core, sunset anxiety stems from a certain black-and-white interpretation of evening hours. As the sun sets earlier, people may feel as though their productive hours are being cut short. This perception can spiral into negative thought patterns, such as:

• The day is over, and I haven’t accomplished enough.

• I can’t do anything useful in the dark.

• Winter evenings are lonely and unproductive.

These thoughts exacerbate feelings of restlessness, sadness, or dread, even though objectively, the number of hours in the day hasn’t changed at all. The emotional weight of this more rigid perception can make evenings feel oppressive, especially for those already prone to anxiety or perfectionism. These thoughts sound so certain, don't they?