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Why Winter Blues Aren't Always Just Winter Blues: Hormones, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Homeopathy
Updated: Aug 5
As the days get shorter and the light starts to fade, I can feel a shift happening.
It has always been the lack of light that I find hardest. I even dread the clocks changing at the end of October because I know my mood and energy can begin to dip.
For years, I assumed I simply didn't cope well with winter. But I often wondered why some people seemed to sail through the darker months while I found them much harder.
It was only when I started learning more about hormones that I realised there was much more going on beneath the surface. Changes in daylight don't just affect the seasons. They can also influence the hormones involved in our mood, sleep and energy. This is why the "winter blues" aren't always just the winter blues.
Why Hormones Matter When It Comes To Our Mood
As I learnt more about hormones, I began to understand that there was a biological reason why winter can affect us differently. Our mood is not simply about our mindset or whether we are "good at coping". Our hormones, nervous system and environment all work together to influence how we feel.
For women, this can be even more noticeable because our hormones naturally fluctuate throughout life. Changes in oestrogen and progesterone can influence the brain chemicals involved in mood, sleep and emotional wellbeing. This may help explain why some women notice changes in how they feel at different times of their menstrual cycle, during perimenopause, or when the darker months arrive.
In my online clinic, women rarely come to me saying, "I think I have Seasonal Affective Disorder." Instead, they often seek help for anxiety, poor sleep, fatigue, brain fog, feeling overwhelmed or simply not feeling like themselves. Many tell me they feel happier, more energised and generally better during the lighter months.
This is why I believe it's important to look beyond simply saying, "I don't like winter."
The darker months can magnify underlying imbalances, whether that's disrupted sleep, hormonal fluctuations, ongoing stress or simply not getting enough natural daylight.
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, most commonly appearing during autumn and winter when daylight hours become shorter.
Common symptoms can include:
Feeling low or more emotional than usual
Reduced energy and feeling tired despite getting enough sleep
Difficulty concentrating or brain fog
Losing interest in activities you normally enjoy
Wanting to withdraw socially
Sleeping more than usual but still feeling exhausted
Increased cravings for carbohydrates or comfort foods
Feeling less motivated or finding everyday tasks more difficult
SAD is usually diagnosed by looking at the pattern of symptoms over time. A key part of diagnosis is that these symptoms tend to appear during a particular season, usually autumn and winter, and improve when the brighter days return.
The Hormone Connection Behind the Winter Blues
When we think about winter affecting our mood, we often think about the obvious things such as darker days, colder weather and spending less time outside. But there is another important piece of the puzzle: our hormones.
Reduced exposure to natural light affects our body clock and the hormones and neurotransmitters involved in mood and sleep.
Serotonin, often known as one of our "feel-good" neurotransmitters, plays an important role in emotional wellbeing. Lower levels of natural light during the winter months can affect serotonin activity, which may contribute to changes in mood, motivation and energy.
Melatonin, our sleep hormone, is also influenced by light exposure. As the days become darker, our bodies may produce more melatonin, which can leave us feeling more tired, sluggish or wanting to sleep more than usual.
Oestrogen and progesterone influence the way our brain responds to mood-regulating chemicals, which is one reason why hormonal changes can affect how emotionally resilient we feel. For some women, fluctuations in these hormones may make them more sensitive to changes in mood, stress and sleep.
This does not mean that every low mood in winter is caused by hormones. Our emotional wellbeing is influenced by many factors, including our lifestyle, stress levels, sleep, relationships and individual health history.
Supporting Your Body Through the Darker Months
There are several simple ways to support your body during the darker months.
Small, consistent changes can make a real difference to how we feel.
Make the most of natural daylight
Natural daylight helps regulate our body clock, supports healthy sleep patterns and plays an important role in our overall wellbeing. Try to get outside for at least 20–30 minutes each day, particularly in the morning when light levels are highest.
Keep moving
When energy is low, exercise is often the last thing we feel like doing. Yet even a gentle walk can help lift your mood by encouraging the release of endorphins and supporting healthy serotonin activity.
Don't overlook vitamin D
Vitamin D is often thought of as a vitamin, but it actually behaves more like a hormone within the body. During the autumn and winter months, many people in the UK are unable to make enough vitamin D from sunlight alone.
Low vitamin D levels have been associated with low mood in some people, including those with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), although it is unlikely to be the only factor involved. Eating foods rich in vitamin D, such as oily fish, egg yolks and mushrooms, and taking a supplement during the autumn and winter months may help if you're not getting enough through sunlight.
Consider light therapy
For some people, a light therapy lamp can be helpful. These lamps are designed to mimic natural daylight and may help regulate the body's internal clock during the darker months.
Take a whole-person approach
Homeopathy takes a different approach by looking beyond the diagnosis and considering you as an individual. Alongside healthy lifestyle habits, a personalised homeopathic prescription may help support your emotional wellbeing and resilience during the winter months.
Homeopathy and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
One of the things I love about homeopathy is that it doesn't treat everyone with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in the same way.
Two people may both describe themselves as feeling low during winter, but when I explore their symptoms in more detail, I often find they are experiencing things very differently.
One person may feel anxious and overwhelmed, while another becomes withdrawn and wants to be left alone. Someone may sleep for hours and still wake feeling exhausted, whereas someone else may struggle to fall asleep because their mind is racing. Some people crave chocolate or carbohydrates, while others lose their appetite completely.
These individual differences are important because, in homeopathy, we are treating the person.
During a consultation, I want to understand not only your mood, but also your sleep, energy, stress levels, emotional wellbeing, physical symptoms, what makes you feel better or worse, and how your symptoms affect your daily life. This allows me to select a homeopathic remedy that matches your unique symptom picture, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
Homeopathy aims to slowly restore balance. When your body is functioning more harmoniously, you may find yourself feeling more resilient, emotionally and physically, during the darker months of the year.
To find out more schedule a free discovery call.
Take charge of your Winter health with homeopathy
I've learnt that our bodies are always trying to communicate with us. Rather than ignoring symptoms or simply pushing through them, I believe it's worth asking why they're happening in the first place.
If you’re curious about how homeopathy can support you, feel free to book a free 20 minute discovery call to have a chat about how your SAD symptoms. I will ask you some questions to see if homeopathy may be beneficial to you.
I am always happy to hear from you.
Naziana x
I’m Naziana, a homeopath with a special focus on women’s health. Through gentle, natural approaches, I support people with a wide range of health concerns, from hormone balance and fatigue to allergies and chronic symptoms, helping the body return to a state of balance and wellbeing. Learn more about me
