The link between living at high altitude and developing mental health issues is an intriguing topic, and of direct importance for our patients. Colorado Springs sits at roughly 6,000 feet, and Monument sits even higher. Seasonal aspects of bad weather, reduced daylight, and feelings of isolation can certainly be contributing factors. But is there a direct link between high altitude and anxiety?
The honest answer is that altitude does appear to be a contributing factor, though it is rarely the only one. Let’s look at what the science says, and why Colorado winters magnify the effect of high altitude.
Why Colorado Springs and Monument sit in a higher risk zone
Elevation matters more than most people realize for mood regulation. Colorado Springs averages around 6,035 feet, and Monument sits above 7,000 feet in parts of town, both well above the elevation levels researchers have associated with increased mental health risks in population studies.
Colorado as a whole has consistently ranked among states with elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Researchers who study this pattern point to high elevation living as one contributing factor, alongside others such as social isolation in mountain communities, access to care, and seasonal weather. Altitude is not the whole story, but it is a real part of it.
The science: how altitude affects brain chemistry
The contributing factor for altitude-related mental health concerns comes down to oxygen availability. Atmospheric pressure drops at higher elevation, which means less oxygen is available with each breath. Research from the National Institutes of Health has linked this reduced oxygen availability to lower serotonin production in the brain, and serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters most directly tied to mood regulation.
Multiple population studies have found higher rates of depressive symptoms and anxiety among people living at higher elevations, even after researchers controlled for other demographic factors like age, income, and population density. That does not mean altitude causes a mental health condition in everyone who lives at elevation. It appears to worsen or unmask symptoms in people who are already vulnerable to depression or anxiety, rather than creating those conditions from nothing.
Winter weather makes it worse
Altitude is one factor. Colorado winters add a second layer on top. Shorter daylight hours mean less sun exposure overall, and the sunlight that does reach the ground during winter months gets blocked further by heavier winter clothing that covers more skin. Severe storms, which are common in both Colorado Springs and Monument during the winter, keep people indoors and reduce the outdoor activity that would otherwise offset some of altitude’s effects.
This overlaps directly with seasonal affective disorder, a pattern of depression tied to reduced sunlight exposure during fall and winter months. Sunlight exposure also plays a role in serotonin production, which means residents at altitude are dealing with two separate hits to the same neurotransmitter system during the same months: less oxygen driving serotonin down, and less sunlight doing the same thing at once.
Signs your mood changes might be more than just the altitude
Some adjustment to living at elevation is normal, especially for newer residents. Mild fatigue or occasional headaches in the first weeks after moving to altitude are common and usually pass. But other signs may be a concern.
Signs of altitude-related mental health issues:
- Low mood or anxiety that persists for more than two weeks rather than coming and going.
- A seasonal pattern that repeats every year around the same months, rather than a one time dip.
- Noticeable changes in sleep or appetite, or a loss of interest in activities that used to feel worthwhile.
- Anxiety or worry that starts interfering with work, relationships, or daily routines rather than staying in the background.
If you recognize these signs in yourself or a loved one, don’t call the moving truck yet. Moving to a lower elevation isn’t the only answer. We suggest talking to a professional at Colorado Psychiatry Solutions before making any drastic moves, or on the opposite end, doing nothing and hoping it improves on its own.
What helps: living well at altitude
A few practical steps can make a real difference in your mood, even during winter..
- Stay ahead of hydration. Altitude increases fluid loss through respiration, and dehydration alone can worsen fatigue and low mood.
- Get outside during daylight hours when you can, even for a short walk, particularly during the winter months when the temptation to stay inside is strongest.
- Keep a consistent sleep schedule, since the shorter daylight window in winter can throw off natural sleep cues more than people expect.
- Stay connected to other people during storm heavy months, when isolation tends to increase right alongside the weather that causes it.
These steps help, but they are not a substitute for treatment when symptoms are persistent or significant.
When to seek professional support
If altitude and Colorado winters are intensifying depression, anxiety, or a seasonal pattern that shows up every year, effective treatment exists locally. Psychiatric medication management and therapy are the starting point for most patients. For cases that do not respond to standard treatment, TMS and ketamine therapy are both available and both work faster than a typical medication trial.
Frequently asked questions
Can moving to a higher altitude cause anxiety or depression?
Research suggests altitude is more likely to worsen or unmask symptoms in people already vulnerable to them than to cause a condition in someone with no prior risk at all.
Does the effect go away once you acclimate?
Some physical adjustment does happen over the first few weeks at a new elevation, but population studies continue to show an association between high elevation living and mood risk over the long term, particularly during winter months.
Is this specific to Colorado Springs and Monument, or all of Colorado?
It applies broadly across Colorado’s mountain and high plains communities. Colorado Springs and Monument both qualify given their elevation, and Monument sits even higher than Colorado Springs itself.
What if I have lived here my whole life and still feel this way?
Longtime residents can still be affected. Acclimation reduces some of the physical symptoms of altitude, but the mood related effects described here are not something everyone simply adjusts out of over time.
Getting support close to home
Altitude and Colorado winters are real, documented contributors to mood changes for a lot of residents, but effective treatment is available without leaving Colorado Springs or Monument. Schedule an evaluation at our Monument or North Colorado Springs location to talk through what you have been noticing.
If you are in crisis, please call or text 988 for immediate support.
