Snowed In & Stressed Out: How NJ Blizzards Impact Anxiety, OCD & Depression
By Dana Colthart, LCSW | Clear Light Therapy – Bergen County, NJ
New York City and New Jersey were just hit with a historic blizzard. Streets shut down. Highways stalled. People were plowed in. Schools closed. Power outages threatened. Travel stopped. For some people, it’s cozy. Snow days. Blankets. MoviesFor others, it is deeply anxiety-provoking.
Every major storm, I hear similar things from people:
“What if I can’t get medical attention?”
“What if I lose power?”
“What if someone needs me and I can’t get there?”
“What if I run out of food or water?”
“What if I have a panic attack and I’m stuck?”
“What if this gets worse?”
“What if I can’t get to work?”
When the world feels physically blocked, it can trigger something much deeper psychologically: loss of control…and loss of control is fuel for anxiety disorders, OCD, depression, and even ADHD symptoms. Let’s break down why.
Why Being “Stuck” Is So Triggering for the Brain
Humans are wired for mobility and agency. When movement is restricted, whether due to a blizzard, lockdown, or natural disaster, the nervous system can interpret it as threat. Research from universities studying disaster psychology and isolation (including work published through .edu institutions after COVID-19) consistently shows that uncertainty + lack of control + reduced mobility significantly increase anxiety and depressive symptoms.
During COVID lockdowns, multiple university-based longitudinal studies found increases in:
Generalized anxiety
Panic symptoms
OCD flare-ups
Major depressive symptoms
Sleep disturbance
Substance use
Emotional dysregulation
Why? Because uncertainty and restriction activate the brain’s threat system.
A blizzard mimics that structure on a smaller scale:
You don’t know when it will end.
You can’t move freely.
Resources feel limited.
Emergency access feels uncertain.
Plans are disrupted.
Routines are broken.
The brain asks: Am I safe?
Anxiety About Being Plowed In: Why the “What If” Spiral Starts
When someone says, “I’m anxious about being stuck,” it usually isn’t about snow itself. It’s about catastrophic possibility.
The anxious mind jumps quickly to:
What if I lose power?
What if pipes burst?
What if emergency services can’t reach me?
What if someone I love needs me?
What if I have a medical issue?
What if I panic and can’t escape?
This is classic anticipatory anxiety. The brain tries to solve future problems that haven’t happened. For people with generalized anxiety disorder, storms amplify baseline worry.
For people with OCD, storms can trigger obsessive loops:
Repeatedly checking weather apps
Repeatedly checking supplies
Googling worst-case scenarios
Mentally rehearsing emergency plans over and over
Seeking reassurance from family members
Ruminating about “what if I didn’t prepare enough?”
The 4-part OCD cycle becomes activated:
Intrusive thought (“What if we lose power and freeze?”)
Anxiety spike
Compulsion (check weather again, check flashlight again, ask partner for reassurance)
Temporary relief
Then the thought returns stronger. Storms are fertile ground for OCD because they involve real uncertainty. And OCD hates uncertainty.
Why People Get Panic Attacks When They Feel Stuck
One question I hear every winter: “Why do I get panic attacks when I feel trapped?” The answer lies in how panic works. A panic attack is the body’s fight-or-flight system misfiring. It’s not about danger, it’s about perceived inability to escape danger. Research in panic disorder consistently shows that fear of being trapped or unable to get help is a major trigger. Think:
Elevators
Airplanes
Traffic jams
Crowded spaces
And yes… snowed-in houses
When roads are closed and movement feels restricted, the brain registers: Escape is limited.
If you already have panic sensitivity, your brain becomes hyperaware of bodily sensations:
Heart racing
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Tingling
Then a second thought appears: “What if I have a panic attack and can’t get help?” That meta-fear can trigger the attack itself. t’s not weakness. It’s nervous system misinterpretation.
OCD During a Blizzard: Why It Flares
OCD thrives in uncertainty.
Storms bring:
Ambiguity about timing
Ambiguity about severity
Ambiguity about damage
Ambiguity about safety
Ambiguity about access to help
If you struggle with contamination OCD, you may worry about sanitation if power goes out. If you struggle with harm OCD, you may fear you didn’t prepare enough and someone could get hurt. If you struggle with responsibility OCD, you may obsess about whether you shoveled “correctly” or prevented an accident. If you struggle with health OCD, you may fear getting sick and not being able to access care. Storms give OCD content. But content is not the core issue. The core issue is intolerance of uncertainty.
Winter Depression: Why Mood Drops After Snowstorms
Beyond anxiety and OCD, winter itself affects mood.
Multiple university studies on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) show that decreased sunlight impacts serotonin regulation, circadian rhythms, and melatonin production. Shorter daylight hours correlate with increased depressive symptoms, particularly in northern states like New Jersey and New York.
Winter storms intensify this by:
Limiting sunlight exposure further
Reducing physical activity
Disrupting social routines
Increasing isolation
Reducing outdoor hobbies
Depression thrives in:
Isolation
Reduced movement
Reduced novelty
Reduced reward
Blizzards shrink life temporarily. And when life shrinks, mood often follows.
Common storm-related depressive thoughts include:
“I feel trapped.”
“Everything feels gloomy.”
“I can’t see anyone.”
“There’s nothing to do.”
“This is never going to end.”
That sense of endlessness is a cognitive distortion amplified by gray skies and cabin fever.
ADHD and Snow Days: Why Symptoms Can Get Worse
ADHD thrives on structure and stimulation. Storms disrupt both.
Common ADHD struggles during winter storms include:
Loss of routine
Difficulty starting tasks at home
Hyperfocus on phone scrolling
Executive dysfunction without external deadlines
Increased irritability
Overstimulation if stuck with family in tight quarters
Impulsivity due to boredom
Research on ADHD and environmental structure shows that reduced external scaffolding increases symptom intensity. When structure disappears, executive functioning has to work harder — and ADHD brains already struggle there.
Storm isolation removes:
Work environment cues
Social accountability
Physical movement
Dopamine-boosting novelty
So ADHD symptoms often spike.
Why Storm Uncertainty Feels So Similar to COVID
Many people noticed that blizzard anxiety felt similar to early COVID anxiety. That’s not accidental. Research published by universities studying post-COVID mental health found that uncertainty and unpredictability were among the strongest predictors of increased anxiety and depression.
Storms recreate:
Lack of timeline
Unpredictable severity
Disrupted plans
Fear of resource scarcity
Media overload
When will it end? How bad will it get? Will something terrible happen? The brain does not like open loops.
Why Being Stuck Feels Existentially Scary
When we lose mobility, something primal activates. Mobility equals safety in evolutionary terms. If you couldn’t move, you couldn’t escape predators, find food, or seek shelter. Modern snowstorms are not predators. But the nervous system doesn’t fully differentiate between symbolic and real restriction. So your body may react with:
Restlessness
Irritability
Anxiety spikes
Racing thoughts
Urge to “do something”
Even if logically you are safe.
What Actually Helps During a Blizzard
For anxiety and OCD:
Limit weather checking to scheduled times.
Prepare reasonably, then stop over-preparing.
Notice reassurance seeking.
Allow “maybe” thoughts.
Remind yourself uncertainty is uncomfortable, not dangerous.
Practice exposure to not checking.
For panic sensitivity:
Normalize bodily sensations.
Stay in the body when anxious instead of trying to escape.
Practice slow breathing.
Remind yourself panic peaks and falls.
For depression:
Increase artificial light exposure.
Maintain wake/sleep times.
Schedule small structured activities.
Move your body indoors.
Reach out virtually.
Keep one social connection daily.
For ADHD:
Create micro-structure.
Use timers.
Body double virtually.
Break tasks into absurdly small steps.
Attach dopamine to boring tasks (music, rewards).
Structure protects mental health during unpredictable times.
When to Seek Help
If after a storm you notice:
Persistent panic
OCD spiraling
Depressive withdrawal lasting weeks
Increased substance use
Sleep disruption
Inability to function
It may be time to speak to a therapist. At Clear Light Therapy in Bergen County, NJ, we treat anxiety disorders, OCD, panic, depression, and ADHD using evidence-based approaches including ERP and ACT. Storms don’t cause mental health conditions. They amplify what is already vulnerable….and vulnerability is treatable.
FAQ: Blizzard Anxiety, OCD & Winter Depression
Why does being snowed in cause anxiety?
Because restriction + uncertainty activates the threat system.
Can OCD get worse during storms?
Yes. OCD thrives on uncertainty and catastrophic thinking.
Why do I panic when I feel trapped?
Panic disorder is strongly linked to fear of being unable to escape or get help.
Does winter worsen depression?
Yes. Reduced sunlight and isolation increase depressive symptoms, especially in northern states.
Can ADHD symptoms worsen during snow days?
Yes. Loss of structure and stimulation increases executive functioning struggles.
Is it normal to feel more anxious after a major storm?
Yes. Nervous systems take time to settle after unpredictability.
When should I seek therapy?
If symptoms persist beyond the storm or significantly interfere with daily functioning.
