Tanya Dutt

Anxious At Dusk? Why The Setting Sun Triggers Anxiety For Many

What is Sunset anxiety

As daylight begins to transition into night with the sunset below the horizon, many of us can feel that change happening. While sunsets are beautiful, breathtaking moments that mark the end of a productive day for most, to some, it is an unsettling time of foreboding. I have experienced this myself: this creeping panic when the sun sets, and the house quiets down with my roommates doing their evening routines. I can face the stress of the day well enough, but when the sun would have dipped orange and purple, I feel this agitation inside me that I could only shake off as the sun would have set long gone and night would have fallen. 

That is when, in those twilight moments, I will start to look for distractions, like closing those blinds or putting on or adjusting some lights or dials over or calling someone just to re-center myself a little bit.

It's an feeling I would call "sunset anxiety" and something I have learned is not a peculiar feeling or experience. While typically the epitome of serenity, for many, sunsets might be the trigger for uneasy emotions such as grief or fear in others and even trigger panic in some. Although it is not a recognized diagnosis, a look into the Reddit online community reveals that others share this experience — an unpleasant combination of loss, regret, and even anxiety, but which then peaks when the sun sets.

Sunset anxiety does not exist in medical textbooks, such as the DSM-5, but is now becoming more familiar to people who experience it. We spoke to someone who experiences anxiety with the setting of the sun, who experience emotions like having panic or regret coupled with this nagging sense that time has been lost while the daylight fades away. 

For some, the daytime represents possibility, the chance to be productive, and to make the most out of the hours available. But with the sun setting, that hope disappears along with an anxiety that she might lose whatever is being kept inside.

"I am feeling extremely anxious, dread, fear, uncomfortable, restless, and overwhelmed," Serena shared. "Once it is fully dark outside, it all starts to subside, but the buildup towards that time is always so hard.".

Often this creeping sense of fear and nervousness because time is passing could be allied to something called "anticipatory anxiety" or the apprehension about what is yet to come, such as tasks left undone or what's lurking tomorrow. At the coming of evening, people may feel a sense of "productivity guilt," seeing that they haven't accomplished enough in the day given. The guilt becomes an accelerator for anxiety, thus forming a vicious cycle of discomfort.

<h2>Is there a Direct Cause to Sunset Anxiety</h2>

There is little focused research on sunset anxiety, but general anxiety studies might be useful. In a 2022 study, those high in worry experience anxiety for most of the day, and those low in anxiety have spikes of stress in the morning which fade at day's end. To night owls - those who tend to be more active and feel more alive late at night - the sunset may mark a transition into their most productive or most socially active hours of the day. However, for those prone to anxiety, it's very likely that the levels of tension will peak with the onset of evening hours.

Other causes of sunset anxiety are post-work stress. Sometimes, at the tail end of the day when all the pending responsibilities and decisions have been attended to, the tension has already built up to a point that individuals are left feeling uneasy. The quietness of things as dusk sets in and life slows down can also heighten these feelings.

The anxiety of witnessing a sunset can be very agonizing, but there are ways to work through those feelings. Here are some things you can do to manage these feelings, as suggested by experts:

1. Stay Active and Busy: One way to push anxiety out the door is to keep yourself active with related activities, for instance, hanging out with buddies, exercising or hobbies can help ease a portion of those feelings of anxiety. Exercise is known to temporarily reduce anxiety, thus a post-workout is just what the doctor ordered.

2. Accept and Admit Your Anxiety: Fighting your anxiety most of the time worsens it. Just admit what you're feeling anxious about and learn to look at what really triggers those feelings.

3. Establish a bedtime routine It might be useful to have a routine that will always signal the end of the day so that you can find it easier and more natural when you transition from day to night. Taking a shower can be just as good as meditation or journal writing. Small rituals that fill the need for comfort and closure at the end of the day.

4. Create a Work Stop Time: Being able to have a clear "shutdown" time makes it possible to not worry about those unfinished things at the end; there are tools such as planners that assist in having a systematic process towards wind-down, mentally and emotionally.

5. Mindfulness Practices: Bring mindfulness into your daily practice to ensure that stress doesn't begin to amass, especially as the day winds down. Guided meditations, sound baths, or simple breathwork will keep you centered and focused when night descends.

If the sunsets begin causing you anxiety that becomes unbearable or interfers with your daily activity, seek professional help. Therapists can support you to examine the cause of sunset anxiety and provide techniques to better tackle such anxiety. They can offer you cognitive-behavioral therapy or other treatment approaches to guide you through dealing with your emotions.

While many people may find a sunset exhilarating, for some, it packs a weight of uneasiness. Truly, understanding that these feelings can be real and taking steps to abate them do bring needed relief. Whether mindfulness, exercise, or developing routines, coping with sunset anxiety is possible, and you don't have to face it alone.

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As daylight begins to transition into night with the sunset below the horizon, many of us can feel that change happening. While sunsets are beautiful, breathtaking moments that mark the end of a productive day for most, to some, it is an unsettling time of foreboding. I have experienced this myself: this creeping panic when the sun sets, and the house quiets down with my roommates doing their evening routines. I can face the stress of the day well enough, but when the sun would have dipped orange and purple, I feel this agitation inside me that I could only shake off as the sun would have set long gone and night would have fallen. That is when, in those twilight moments, I will start to look for distractions, like closing those blinds or putting on or adjusting some lights or dials over or calling someone just to re-center myself a little bit.It's an feeling I would call "sunset anxiety" and something I have learned is not a peculiar feeling or experience. While typically the epitome of serenity, for many, sunsets might be the trigger for uneasy emotions such as grief or fear in others and even trigger panic in some. Although it is not a recognized diagnosis, a look into the Reddit online community reveals that others share this experience — an unpleasant combination of loss, regret, and even anxiety, but which then peaks when the sun sets.What is Sunset Anxiety?Sunset anxiety does not exist in medical textbooks, such as the DSM-5, but is now becoming more familiar to people who experience it. We spoke to someone who experiences anxiety with the setting of the sun, who experience emotions like having panic or regret coupled with this nagging sense that time has been lost while the daylight fades away. For some, the daytime represents possibility, the chance to be productive, and to make the most out of the hours available. But with the sun setting, that hope disappears along with an anxiety that she might lose whatever is being kept inside."I am feeling extremely anxious, dread, fear, uncomfortable, restless, and overwhelmed," Serena shared. "Once it is fully dark outside, it all starts to subside, but the buildup towards that time is always so hard.".Often this creeping sense of fear and nervousness because time is passing could be allied to something called "anticipatory anxiety" or the apprehension about what is yet to come, such as tasks left undone or what's lurking tomorrow. At the coming of evening, people may feel a sense of "productivity guilt," seeing that they haven't accomplished enough in the day given. The guilt becomes an accelerator for anxiety, thus forming a vicious cycle of discomfort.Is there a Direct Cause to Sunset AnxietyThere is little focused research on sunset anxiety, but general anxiety studies might be useful. In a 2022 study, those high in worry experience anxiety for most of the day, and those low in anxiety have spikes of stress in the morning which fade at day's end. To night owls - those who tend to be more active and feel more alive late at night - the sunset may mark a transition into their most productive or most socially active hours of the day. However, for those prone to anxiety, it's very likely that the levels of tension will peak with the onset of evening hours.Other causes of sunset anxiety are post-work stress. Sometimes, at the tail end of the day when all the pending responsibilities and decisions have been attended to, the tension has already built up to a point that individuals are left feeling uneasy. The quietness of things as dusk sets in and life slows down can also heighten these feelings.How to Cope with Sunset AnxietyThe anxiety of witnessing a sunset can be very agonizing, but there are ways to work through those feelings. Here are some things you can do to manage these feelings, as suggested by experts:1. Stay Active and Busy: One way to push anxiety out the door is to keep yourself active with related activities, for instance, hanging out with buddies, exercising or hobbies can help ease a portion of those feelings of anxiety. Exercise is known to temporarily reduce anxiety, thus a post-workout is just what the doctor ordered.2. Accept and Admit Your Anxiety: Fighting your anxiety most of the time worsens it. Just admit what you're feeling anxious about and learn to look at what really triggers those feelings.3. Establish a bedtime routine It might be useful to have a routine that will always signal the end of the day so that you can find it easier and more natural when you transition from day to night. Taking a shower can be just as good as meditation or journal writing. Small rituals that fill the need for comfort and closure at the end of the day.4. Create a Work Stop Time: Being able to have a clear "shutdown" time makes it possible to not worry about those unfinished things at the end; there are tools such as planners that assist in having a systematic process towards wind-down, mentally and emotionally.5. Mindfulness Practices: Bring mindfulness into your daily practice to ensure that stress doesn't begin to amass, especially as the day winds down. Guided meditations, sound baths, or simple breathwork will keep you centered and focused when night descends.Do You Need Professional Help?If the sunsets begin causing you anxiety that becomes unbearable or interfers with your daily activity, seek professional help. Therapists can support you to examine the cause of sunset anxiety and provide techniques to better tackle such anxiety. They can offer you cognitive-behavioral therapy or other treatment approaches to guide you through dealing with your emotions.While many people may find a sunset exhilarating, for some, it packs a weight of uneasiness. Truly, understanding that these feelings can be real and taking steps to abate them do bring needed relief. Whether mindfulness, exercise, or developing routines, coping with sunset anxiety is possible, and you don't have to face it alone.