Anxiety: seasonal disorder

Now that we’ve transitioned to the new season, we are facing a new set of environmental pressure by the qualities of the climate. These are mainly dry, cold and light. These qualities irritate the nerves.

Dryness affects our mucous lining and provokes sneezing fits by exposed nerve endings in the nose. The result is watery mucous and lowered immune response. That’s how we get susceptible for viruses and bacteria of the season. Dryness also affects the skin which becomes itchy and rough, the gut dries up and we get constipated. Lightness makes the nerves unstable and interferes with sleep and consequently our mood. The feeling of ungroundedness is common and it manifests often, together with the other qualities attacking the nerves as anxiety. 

Anxiety is an emotional response of the body to a feeling of fear. The thing is, you don’t really need to have anything specific to fear. If you do not protect yourself against the seasonal qualities, you might create a sensation of fear out of nowhere. You start magnifying things that have no real impact, especially during those early morning hours between 3 and 4am. That’s when vata energy peaks, lightness affects our sleep and it might be hard to get back to sleep with those magnified fears.

The answer to rising anxiety and all other seasonal health issues is obviously dictated by the principle of opposites: warm, heavy, grounding and calming diet and lifestyle. This is, in fact, the time when we naturally crave carbs, which are heavy and comforting. Comfort really is the word of the season.

One way of creating safety and comfort is by making sure neck, ankles, wrists and lower back or kidneys are warm.  Make sure you always have extra layer with you when you know you’re coming home late.

Hot water bottle is your best friend in terms of anxiety led sleeplessness. Take it to bed and place it on your heart when you want to calm down and get to sleep.

As for the seasonal cold, avoid honey, which might make things even worse as it is highly dehydrating and irritates nerves even more. Take healthy fats instead. These help to fortify the mucous lining and sooth your nerves. Add a teaspoon in your turmeric latte or chai.

Vitamin C is super important in this season and it comes in abundance in our seasonal foods. However, an additional dose would be great. Ayurvedic remedy for that is chyawanprash that is made out of Indian Gooseberry, one of the most vitamin C containing fruits you can find. Mix in in hot milk and add a bit of ghee or coconut oil to sooth the nerves, activate digestion and improve your immunity.

Another favourite of mind is Golden Milk, especially this one by Wudner Workshop. Choose the milk of your choice, add fat and sooth the soul.

In short, to pacify rising seasonal anxiety and any other conditions caused by drying, cold and light qualities of the autumn, make sure you stay warm, eat warm comforting foods and drink warm spicy drinks with milk of your choice.

Stay safe and enjoy the new season!