Fall into Health

Fall into Health

Every fall I have noticed thatl people will call my office asking for help with anxiety and sleep disorders. There is something about the changing weather and climate that makes a pre existing disorder worse or pushes these symptoms to the surface. Stress in the person’s life is the same as it was during summer but the pressure of the changing weather amplifies their symptoms. Perhaps this is due to the cold weather coming on pushing the blood and energy of the body inwards for the winter. It is a subtle kind of hibernation; people often feel more internal and reflective in winter, need more sleep and can be less social.

Honor your connection to nature and prepare for the inherent changes of the seasons. This minimizes anxiety and supports one to remain in harmony. Get in touch with the natural rhythm of your body and nature; here are some self care tips you can try that will allow your body to remain in alignment with the season.

You may need to build up your immune system to strengthen your blood for winter time:

Take some long walks outside and breath vigorously as you look at the changing colors. In Chinese Medicine it is understood that the colors of the fall naturally rebuild and strengthen the adrenals and pancreas (Spleen Qi). Another way to say this is that you will just feel good! Go to bed one hour earlier so that you can take advantage of the shorter days and nurture yourself with more sleep. Your body will thank you. Here are some healing recipes for the Fall, apples especially are calming to the spirit, they help to relieve anxiety and can help with sleep. Here in New Mexico, the apple trees are about to drop their last offering of the season before the first freeze. I wish you and your loved ones a bountiful fall and a nourishing winter.