264. The December Darkness Episode: Why This Month Hits Hard and How to Support Your Mental Health

The Anxiety Chicks

Cloud10

Mental Health, Education, Alternative Health, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.7 • 832 Ratings

🗓️ 18 December 2025

⏱️ 17 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In today’s solo episode, Taylor breaks down why December feels so heavy for so many of us, especially if you deal with anxiety, health anxiety, depression, or sensitivity to change.Even though daylight savings shifts in November, the emotional impact often hits hardest in December when the days become noticeably shorter and our nervous systems struggle to adapt. Inside this episode, you’ll learn:• What’s actually happening in your brain and body as daylight decreases• Why mood, energy, motivation, and anxiety commonly change in winter• How circadian rhythms, serotonin, and cortisol are affected• Why this season can trigger health anxiety or emotional “heaviness”• The most common symptoms people notice during December• Practical, realistic strategies to support your mental health during darker months• The exact tools that help stabilize your mood, nervous system, and energy Taylor shares grounding, science-backed, compassionate ways to help your body adjust — from morning light exposure, movement, stable routines, and nutrition, to emotional boundaries, nervous system transitions, and creating a supportive evening plan. This episode is here to remind you that nothing is wrong with you. Your body is adjusting. And there are ways to feel more regulated, supported, and steady through the darkest days of the year. Don’t forget to rate and review The Chicks! 🌐 Connect With Us ⁠@theanxietychicks⁠ | ⁠@theanxietyhealer⁠ | ⁠@health_anxiety⁠ ✨ Taylor’s #1 Anxiety Healing Supplement, Free Resources & More: ⁠peakofpanic.com/collections/all⁠ Order The Anxiety Healers Guide Here: https://theanxietyhealer.com/books 🧰 Alison's Free Resources, Coaching & Healing Toolkit: ⁠www.theanxietyhealer.com⁠ 🎥 Watch Full Episodes on YouTube Subscribe for more anxiety healing content, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insight. www.youtube.com/@anxietychicks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Shopify. With Shopify, 2026 is the year you make it happen. It gives you the tools to build your dream store, online and in person. Plus with marketing built in, it'll help you reach exactly who you need to. Join the millions who've already made the leap, like Jim Shark and all birds, and ring in the new year with Shopify.
0:23.4	Sign up for your £1 per month trial at Shopify.com.uk.com.
0:27.9	Hi, I'm Allison. And I'm Taylor. And we're the host of the Anxiety Chicks podcast,
0:34.6	where we dive deep into the reality of anxiety, nutrition,
0:38.3	and mental health.
0:39.7	Listen as we explore all things anxiety healing while keeping it real, including our own
0:44.2	struggles with mental health.
0:45.8	We'll bring our expertise as healing professionals to the conversation while discussing
0:50.4	the tools and strategies you need to heal the anxious mind.
0:54.1	Listen to the Anxiety Chicks on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast.
1:01.0	Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the Anxiety Chicks podcast.
1:05.8	As you can see, it is just me today.
1:08.7	And we're going to talk on something that hits home for me.
1:12.1	And that is the feeling of now that we're in December, daylight savings and how it actually
1:19.6	affects our anxiety, our mood, mental health, whatever.
1:26.3	Even though the daylight savings technically changes in November, I feel like
1:30.4	the emotional drop doesn't hit until like December because you start to notice the days are
1:34.6	getting shorter and shorter. And the evenings feel like they disappear instantly. And your brain is
1:41.8	basically whispering. Why does it feel like midnight at 5 p.m.? I will look at the
1:46.2	clock so many times and be like, how the heck is it only 6 p.m.? So for a lot of people with anxiety,
1:52.9	health anxiety, depression, this season can feel pretty heavy. And you're not broken for feeling
1:59.5	that way. There's actually biological and
	...

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