01/25/2026
Snowed in doesn’t mean you have to be stuck in survival mode ❄️
Being inside for long stretches can increase boredom, anxiety, and urges to drink, use substances, or engage in eating disorder behaviors. This is common and it’s not a personal failure.
A few ways to cope during a snow storm:
• Name what’s happening. Urges often increase when routines, structure, and connection are disrupted. Saying “this makes sense right now” can lower their intensity.
• Create gentle structure. Anchor your day with a few predictable moments like meals, a shower, movement, a favorite show, or a check-in text.
• Keep your hands busy. Art, crafting, cooking, puzzles, journaling, or organizing one small space can help regulate the nervous system.
• Support your body. Regular nourishment and hydration matter, especially when schedules are off. Restriction or skipping meals can intensify urges.
• Stay connected. Isolation fuels urges. Reach out to someone you trust, attend a virtual group, or check in with your therapist if possible.
• Try not to doom scroll. There are scary things happening in the world, and social media is often a place for arguments. Snow days are great days for a social media detox.
• Remember that urges peak and pass. Most rise, crest, and fall within about 20–30 minutes. You don’t have to get rid of the urge… just get through the wave.
If urges feel overwhelming, support is available. Reach out to your care team, a trusted person, or call/text the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.
