Seasonal Affective Disorder
When the Seasons Shape Our Inner Landscape
As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, many people notice a subtle shift, not just in the season but in their mood, energy, and overall sense of well-being. For some, this shift can feel heavy, persistent, and deeply disruptive. This pattern is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and it affects millions each year.
SAD is often linked to decreased sunlight exposure in the fall and winter. This can affect serotonin, melatonin, vitamin D levels, and circadian rhythm, all of which influence mood and energy.
But Traditional Chinese Medicine and holistic wellness perspectives go even deeper, viewing SAD as a sign that the body’s internal rhythms have fallen out of harmony with the rhythms of nature.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), winter is the season of:
Water element
Kidney energy
Yin qualities: rest, introspection, stillness
When we resist the natural slowing of winter, pushing ourselves at summer’s pace, we can experience exhaustion, emotional heaviness, and disconnection. SAD can often arise when our lifestyles are out of sync with what our bodies are being asked to do: rest, replenish, and return inward.
Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder May Include:
Low mood or irritability
Fatigue or sluggishness
Increased need for sleep
Cravings for carbs or sweets
Difficulty focusing
Social withdrawal
Feeling “unlike yourself”
If these shifts feel familiar, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to navigate them alone.
How We Support SAD at Common Ground Wellness
With over 25 years of combined experience in acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, integrative wellness, and mind-body care, our practitioners take a comprehensive, compassionate approach. We focus on treating the root, not just the symptoms.
1. Acupuncture for Mood, Energy & Nervous System Regulation
Acupuncture helps regulate neurotransmitters, reduce stress hormones, and restore a healthy circadian rhythm. Most patients describe it as their weekly “reset” during the darker months.
2. Herbal Medicine for Stress, Low Mood & Fatigue
Chinese herbal formulas can nourish depleted Kidney energy, support mood, and enhance resilience throughout the season.
3. Nutritional Support for Seasonal Wellness
We help you transition toward winter-supportive foods, warm, nourishing, grounding meals that stabilize energy and mood.
4. Mind-Body Approaches
Breathwork, mindfulness, restorative practices, and simple presence and compassion are amazing resources to support emotional steadiness and deepen inner calm.
Bringing Back the Light
Seasonal Affective Disorder is not just a mental health challenge; it’s a signal that your body is seeking deeper alignment.
At Common Ground Wellness, our mission is to empower your health journey. Not through quick fixes or temporary solutions, but through root-cause care that supports you through every season.
Winter does not have to be something you simply endure.
With the right support, it can become a time of replenishment, quiet strengthening, and inner restoration. And don’t forget, once we reach the apex of the darkness of winter, the winter solstice, just days before the Christmas holiday, the days will slowly become longer. So the darkest night will soon lead us into the light!
Ready for a Change This Season?
If you’re feeling the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder, we invite you to reach out. Whether in our Louisville clinic or virtually, our practitioners are here to support you with personalized, holistic care.
Schedule an appointment or consultation today.
Your wellness matters, every season of the year.
