How to Manage Anxiety When Everyone Else is “Having Fun”
Summer is often described as the happiest time of year. The sun is out, vacations are planned, and social media is filled with beach days, road trips, and group photos. There’s this quiet pressure to feel relaxed and joyful, like you’re supposed to be making the most of every minute. When that doesn’t match how you actually feel, it can be confusing and isolating.
Many people experience an increase in anxiety during summer, even though everything around them seems cheerful. Warm weather and free time don’t always bring peace. In fact, a lack of structure, packed schedules, and constant comparison can make things feel even more overwhelming. Watching others enjoy themselves when you feel anxious or emotionally stuck can create a disconnect. It often leads to thoughts like, “What’s wrong with me?” or “Why can’t I just enjoy this?”
There is nothing wrong with you. Anxiety doesn’t take a break just because the season changed. It doesn’t care what the weather is like or how many events are on your calendar. Sometimes, having more time and space actually gives anxiety more room to creep in. When you’re pulled out of your regular routine or surrounded by social expectations, your nervous system can easily become overloaded.
If summer has been feeling more stressful than fun, there are ways to ease some of that pressure. Start by giving yourself permission to feel what you feel. You don’t have to enjoy something just because other people do. Creating a sense of rhythm in your days can also be helpful. Keeping a consistent sleep schedule, planning meals, or setting small goals each morning can bring a sense of grounding.
It’s also okay to turn down invitations. Social rest is important, especially if you’ve been overextending yourself. If your anxiety shows up in your body, gentle movement can help. This doesn’t need to be an intense workout. A short walk, some stretching, or even just sitting outside for a few minutes can shift how you feel.
Therapy can be a helpful space to work through all of this. At Brightside Behavioral Health, we support clients across Rhode Island and Massachusetts who feel out of step with what the world expects from them. It can feel lonely when you’re struggling in a season that’s supposed to feel light and easy. That’s exactly when support can make a difference. You don’t need to have a crisis to benefit from therapy. Sometimes just having a place where you can speak freely and feel understood is what helps the most.
If you’re feeling disconnected, anxious, or overstimulated this summer, you’re not alone. You don’t have to force yourself to have fun or pretend everything is fine. Your experience is valid and your mental health matters.