By Tracey Brittain EMDR Therapy LondonFebruary 2025
Have you ever wondered why your mood seems to change with the seasons? Why January feels impossibly bleak, why summer sometimes feels lonelier than winter, or why autumn carries a strange mix of relief and dread? At Tracey Brittain Therapy, we’ve observed distinct seasonal patterns in mental health, with clients presenting different struggles at various points in the year. And it’s not just anecdotal research supports these trends, showing that depression, anxiety, stress, and even substance use peak at predictable times.
Understanding these patterns isn’t about resigning yourself to them but about recognising what’s coming and preparing for it. Just as you wouldn’t go outside in December without a coat, it makes sense to have the right mental health tools for different times of the year. Services like our Harley Therapy London offer valuable support in navigating these seasonal fluctuations.
Findings by Tracey Brittain Therapy London
January: The Weight of a New Year
January arrives with the false promise of transformation. The world bombards us with the idea that it’s time to reset, that we should be shedding bad habits, losing weight, becoming more productive, and reinventing ourselves entirely. But in reality, January is a slog. The holiday magic has faded, leaving behind a sense of emptiness, debt, and exhaustion. The festive lights come down, the grey skies stretch endlessly, and we are left with a to-do list of self-improvements that suddenly feel completely overwhelming.
At Tracey Brittain Therapy, we see a sharp increase in clients struggling with post-holiday depression, financial anxiety, and motivation loss. There’s a tangible drop in energy levels, often exacerbated by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a winter-induced depression caused by a lack of sunlight. The short, dark days make it harder to feel motivated, and even simple tasks feel like mountains to climb.
Financial strain also weighs heavily on mental health. December is a month of spending, and January is when the bills arrive, demanding repayment with no regard for our emotional state. This leads to heightened anxiety, increased stress, and a sense of hopelessness—a cycle many clients find themselves trapped in every year.
The solution isn’t to set harsher goals or to push through the exhaustion with brute force. Instead, January should be a month of gentleness and patience, a time to slow down rather than speed up. Resolutions should be kind rather than punishing, focused on self-care rather than self-criticism.
February: Love, Loneliness, and the Lingering Cold
If January is the month of exhaustion, February is the month of discontent. Valentine’s Day looms over single people like an unwanted guest, while those in relationships feel pressured to perform romance on demand. It’s a month of comparison and self-reflection, where loneliness sharpens for those without a partner and expectations strain for those who do.
At Tracey Brittain Therapy, we see an increase in clients struggling with loneliness, relationship conflict, and self-esteem issues during this time. Studies confirm that relationship-related distress peaks in February, especially among those who already feel vulnerable.
The days are still dark, the air still cold, and the hope of spring feels just out of reach. Many people assume that once the new year has begun, they should start feeling better. But mental health doesn’t follow the calendar’s rules, and the continued struggle of winter can leave people feeling frustrated with themselves for not "snapping out of it."
The best approach for February is to lean into self-compassion. Instead of relying on external validation—whether from a partner, a social event, or a Valentine’s card—there is real strength in learning to be content within yourself.
March and April: The Season of Pressure
Spring promises renewal and energy, but for many, it delivers the opposite. This is the season of exams, deadlines, and mounting pressure, particularly for students and professionals with high workloads.
At Tracey Brittain Therapy, we see a surge in anxiety-related issues, particularly among young people facing academic stress. Perfectionism rears its head, and suddenly, the pressure to succeed feels suffocating. Clients describe difficulty sleeping, racing thoughts, and an inability to relax, even when they desperately need rest.
There’s also a strange contradiction in mood during this time. While the weather begins to brighten and nature comes back to life, many people still feel stuck in the heaviness of winter. There’s a disconnect between the expectation that we should feel better now that spring has arrived and the reality that mental health doesn’t always sync with the seasons.
The key here is structured support and self-awareness. Recognising that stress will come in waves helps people prepare for it, rather than being overwhelmed by it. Learning to set boundaries around work and school commitments ensures that anxiety doesn’t spiral out of control.
Moving Beyond Seasonal Patterns
While the seasons will always influence mood and mental health, they do not have to dictate one’s emotional well-being. By addressing unresolved trauma, individuals can free themselves from the emotional rollercoaster that each season brings. Healing removes the underlying triggers that make winter unbearable, spring overwhelming, or summer isolating.
At Tracey Brittain Therapy, our focus is on helping clients process past experiences so that they can move forward with resilience. When the weight of trauma is lifted, the seasons become just that—seasons. Not something to fear or endure, but something to experience with a newfound sense of balance and peace.
Trauma and Seasonal Mental Health Fluctuations
One of the most overlooked reasons why people are impacted by these seasonal mental health shifts is trauma. Studies have shown that individuals with a history of trauma, especially those who have grown up in unpredictable or unsafe environments, are more susceptible to seasonal triggers. Research published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress (2023) highlights that people who have experienced early-life adversity often have heightened sensitivity to environmental changes, leading to increased vulnerability to seasonal depression and anxiety.
A damaged psychological landscape—one shaped by childhood neglect, emotional abuse, or persistent instability—can make seasonal shifts feel overwhelming. This is because trauma alters the brain’s ability to regulate stress and mood, making it harder to adapt to external changes. The shorter days of winter, the pressure of new beginnings in January, and the social demands of summer can all reawaken old wounds, amplifying distress.
However, the good news is that trauma does not have to dictate one’s experience of the seasons indefinitely. Research by van der Kolk (2014) in The Body Keeps the Score suggests that healing trauma through EMDR mindfulness, and somatic work can significantly reduce the impact of seasonal fluctuations. When trauma is resolved, the nervous system becomes more resilient, allowing individuals to experience each season without the weight of past pain dictating their emotions.
Tracey Brittain emphasises, "If you have trauma, you should seek therapy as soon as possible. Healing allows you to break free from seasonal distress and experience life in a more balanced and fulfilling way. Services like EMDR treatment London can provide the necessary support to move forward with resilience."
Tracey runs a very successful EMDR Therapy London clinic in Harley Street. She is both accredited in EMDR for adults and children through the EMDR association.
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