SAD – Seasonal affective disorder

Winter is the season of SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. If you’ve noticed anxiety arising seemingly out of nowhere, it may be linked to the cold, dry and light qualities of this time of year. These characteristics aggravate the nervous system and can disrupt our equilibrium, both physically and mentally.

Vata’s nature is to be anything but average: extreme, changeable and unpredictable. If you’re ever unsure which dosha is at play, it’s likely vata. It shifts rapidly and expresses itself in ways that can resemble pitta (such as sudden, intense anger) or kapha (such as abrupt withdrawal). When symptoms are impulsive, unexpected or feel out of control, vata imbalance is often the culprit.

From an Ayurvedic perspective, SAD is a vata disorder because it brings irregular, fluctuating moods: ups that quickly crash as the body-mind depletes itself from the excessive energy expenditure of anxiety. Anxiety destabilises us, making us feel insecure, frightened, scattered and ungrounded. Its upward-moving energy pulls us out of our centre, leaving us “up with the fairies.”

To manage SAD, we must introduce the opposite qualities: warmth, comfort, grounding, moisture and, most importantly, regularity. The mind relaxes when it knows what to expect. Establishing predictable daily rhythms, especially around meal and sleep times, profoundly supports mental well-being.

One of the most effective ways to reduce anxiety is to soothe it with love, the opposite of fear, the primary tone of anxiety and stress disorders.

In states of fear, our physiology reroutes blood flow to the brainstem, the reptilian brain responsible for fight-or-flight responses, at the expense of the forebrain, particularly the frontal lobe. This forehead region governs rational thought. When it receives adequate blood flow, we think more clearly, catastrophise less, react less impulsively and view life more objectively. Acceptance becomes easier and we can surrender to the natural flow of things.

However, during an anxiety attack, we cannot simply “think our way out” of distress. Rationalising is impossible when the part of the brain responsible for reasoning is under-energised. Ayurveda offers therapeutic techniques such as Indian head massage and shirodhara, deeply calming treatments that require dedicated time and space.

There is, however, a beautifully simple technique you can use anywhere: place warm hands on the forehead. Anything warm will help, but human touch is the most powerful of all. Loving, kind contact naturally pacifies fear. Resting warm hands on the forehead helps redirect blood flow to the frontal lobe, restoring clarity and grounding within minutes. It also promotes feeling of safety which helps us to come back to self-regulation.

We instinctively hold our forehead during “OMG” moments. Maintaining this connection for just five minutes can significantly shift how the brain functions. The hands of a trusted person, offered with a healing intention, can transform anxiety into acceptance more quickly than we often imagine.

This is also an excellent tool for sleepless nights, typical of this season: if you struggle to fall asleep or return to sleep, ask your partner to place a warm hand on your forehead, or use a gently heated rice bag or towel if you’re alone.

At Jivita Ayurveda, we now offer a complimentary extra 5-minute anxiety fix with all our massages.

And if you really need grounding but cannot afford a treatment, you’re welcome to walk in and ask whether a therapist is available. If someone is free, we will gladly help you find calm and steadiness, because that’s what we are here for.

We look forward to seeing you soon!