For many people, the darker months bring a noticeable shift — a heaviness, a drop in motivation, or a sense of emotional fog that feels very different from their usual selves. This experience is far more common than many realize, and for some, it forms a clear pattern year after year. This recurring dip in mood is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.

While often referred to as “winter blues,” SAD is a recognised subtype of depression with a predictable rhythm. For most people, symptoms begin as daylight decreases and improve again when light returns. But no matter when or where you feel it, SAD can profoundly affect your energy, mood, and daily life.

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a seasonal form of low mood or depression that follows a clear pattern — typically worsening with reduced light exposure and lifting as brighter days return. Many people notice:

• Persistent low mood or sadness

• Lethargy, oversleeping, or heavy fatigue

• Loss of interest or motivation

• Irritability or increased anxiety

• Cravings for carbohydrates and comfort foods

• Difficulty concentrating or reduced creativity

• A desire to withdraw or “hibernate”

• Feelings of hopelessness or inner heaviness

SAD is not “in your head” — it is a genuine physiological and emotional response to changes in light, rhythm, and internal regulation.

Why Does SAD Happen? A Quick Look Inside the Body

When light decreases, several key systems shift:

• Circadian rhythm becomes disrupted

• Melatonin rises, increasing fatigue

• Serotonin drops, lowering motivation and mood

• The hypothalamus struggles to regulate sleep, appetite, and hormones

This combination creates what many people intuitively describe as a “winter fog” — slower, heavier, less vibrant.

A Homeopathic Perspective

Homeopathy views SAD as one expression of a person’s susceptibility. Two people may have identical daylight patterns yet respond entirely differently. That individual response — the way your symptoms show up for you — guides the choice of remedy.

Some people experience:

• Silent inward sadness (Natrum mur)

• Gloom, hopelessness, or despair (Aurum metallic)

• Heaviness and emotional stagnation (Sepia)

• Depletion after stress or grief (Phosphoric acid)

• A low and pessimistic feeling (Psorinum)

Others resonate with gemstone and remedies from resins such as Succinum (Amber) or Frankincense, which beautifully match themes of pressure, heaviness, isolation, and longing for light — emotional states that often intensify during darker seasons.

Homeopathy does not treat the label of SAD; it supports the whole person and their unique symptom pattern.

Support Beyond Remedies

Holistic care involves rhythm and nourishment just as much as it does remedies. Many people benefit from:

• Morning light exposure or light therapy

• Vitamin D3 (paired with K2)

• Consistent sleep-wake routines

• Warm, grounding meals

• Movement and gentle activity

• Supportive Bach Flower Essences (Hornbeam, Mustard, Gorse, Wild Rose, etc.)

• Reducing blood-sugar swings

• Nervous system co-regulation

Together, these help restore a sense of steadiness, warmth, and inner light.

Who Is More Vulnerable?

While SAD can affect anyone, it is more common in:

• People living farther from the equator

• Women

• Postpartum mothers

• Those with personal or family history of depression

• People with low vitamin D

• Anyone experiencing chronic stress, inflammation, or disrupted sleep

You’re not alone if winter hits harder for you, and there is support available.

Want to Go Deeper? Watch the Full Webinar

If you’d like to explore SAD more deeply, including the body systems involved, adjunct therapies, key remedies, and a real case example — I’ve created a comprehensive webinar:

Finding Light in the Dark — Homeopathic Support for Seasonal Affective Disorder

This webinar is available to watch on The Homeopathic Learning Studio, where you will also have access to over 20 in depth courses, videos and printable guides on an ever-growing collection of homeopathic resources as well as a Monthly Live Q&A session. Sign up today and get 50% off your membership for as long as you are a member.

👉Watch the webinar here: https://homeopathy-at-home.com/the-homeopathic-learning-studio/
Enter code LEAHB50HLS at checkout for 50% discount.

SAD is real. It’s human. And with the right support, it is absolutely possible to move through winter with more steadiness, connection, and vitality. Understanding your susceptibility, emotional landscape, and internal rhythms can help you feel more supported.

If you’re ready to explore your own pattern and find a remedy that matches your inner experience, I’m here to help.

Warmly,

Leah Bugg, CHP
Board Certified Classical Homeopath
California & Telehealth
https://leaphomeopathy.com