The Biggest Reason For Seasonal Depression

Every winter, you watch it happen again.

As the days get shorter, your child’s motivation starts to fade. Their energy drops. Emotions become harder to manage. The meltdowns that seemed under control in September are suddenly happening multiple times a day. The anxiety you thought you had a handle on comes roaring back.

You’ve heard the medical explanation: Seasonal Affective Disorder. Reduced sunlight. Chemical imbalances. The solution? Try a light box. Add another supplement. Maybe consider medication.

But here’s the question that keeps nagging at you: Why does your child struggle so predictably every single year while their sibling or classmates seem fine?

The answer changes everything about how you approach your child’s health—not just in winter, but year-round.

The Pattern You Can’t Ignore

Let me paint a picture you probably know all too well.

In August, things are manageable. Your child is sleeping reasonably well. Digestion is okay. Yes, there are challenges, but you’ve found your rhythm. You’re managing.

Then October hits. November arrives. And suddenly, everything falls apart.

Sleep becomes a nightly battle. Stomach issues return with a vengeance. The behavioral challenges you thought you’d gotten past come flooding back. It’s like watching your child slip away, and no matter what you try—earlier bedtimes, dietary changes, consistent routines—nothing seems to help.

This isn’t a coincidence. It’s not bad parenting. And it’s definitely not “all in your head.”

Your child’s nervous system is telling you something critical: it’s running on empty.

Understanding Your Child’s Nervous System “Battery”

Think about your smartphone for a moment. When it’s fully charged, it handles everything you throw at it—calls, apps, videos, navigation—without breaking a sweat. But when that battery gets low? Suddenly, even basic functions become a struggle.

Your child’s nervous system works the same way.

The Autonomic Nervous System is like having two pedals in a car: a gas pedal (the Sympathetic Nervous System) that activates when your child needs to respond to challenges, and a brake pedal (the Parasympathetic Nervous System) that helps them rest, digest, sleep, and stay emotionally balanced.

A healthy, regulated nervous system helps your child shift smoothly between these states. They can “gas it” when they need to focus at school or handle disappointment, then easily hit the “brake” to calm down, fall asleep, and recover.

But here’s what’s happening with your child: their gas pedal is stuck down, and their brake pedal barely works.

This is called sympathetic dominance, and it’s absolutely exhausting. Imagine trying to drive everywhere with your foot on the gas and barely any ability to brake. That’s what your child’s nervous system is doing 24/7.

Why Seasonal Changes Hit So Hard

Now, let’s talk about why fall and winter become the breaking point.

Seasonal transitions aren’t just about colder weather and pretty leaves. Your child’s nervous system has to do serious adaptation work:

• Adjusting circadian rhythms to drastically different light patterns
• Maintaining neurotransmitter production despite reduced sunlight exposure
• Regulating body temperature in colder conditions
• Supporting immune function during cold and flu season

For a child with a healthy nervous system reserve—a fully charged battery—these adaptations happen automatically in the background.

But for your child, whose nervous system is already maxed out, these seasonal demands become the final straw. There’s simply nothing left in reserve. The battery hits zero, and that’s when you see everything crash: sleep, behavior, digestion, emotional regulation—all of it.

This is what we call neurological exhaustion, and it explains why your child struggles every single winter.

The “Perfect Storm” That Started Years Ago

Your child’s seasonal vulnerability didn’t start this fall. It began much earlier—possibly before they were even born.

Before Birth: The Programming Phase

If you experienced significant stress during pregnancy, your developing baby was exposed to elevated cortisol and stress hormones. This essentially programmed their nervous system to expect a stressful environment.

Birth: The Physical Stress Point

Birth interventions—such as C-sections, forceps, vacuum extraction, or extended labor—can create physical stress to your baby’s upper cervical spine and vagus nerve pathway.

Early Years: The Compounding Factors

Early childhood stressors like colic, reflux, ear infections, and repeated antibiotics added even more stress to an already vulnerable nervous system.

Those antibiotics disrupted your child’s gut microbiome, which directly affects nervous system regulation.

Ages 3-7: When Labels Appear

By preschool or early elementary years, diagnostic labels like ADHD, autism, anxiety, sensory processing disorder, and behavioral challenges often appear. The nervous system dysfunction was there all along—it simply became more visible as demands increased.

What This Means for Your Family

Your child’s seasonal struggles aren’t about weakness or being “broken.” They’re a sign that their nervous system has lost its reserve capacity and needs support.

The nervous system is designed to heal, recover, and regulate when given the proper support.

A Different Approach for This Winter

You’ve likely tried light therapy, supplements, sleep aids, diet changes, and behavioral strategies. These may help temporarily, but they don’t address the root issue: a dysregulated nervous system.

At Van Every Family Chiropractic Center, we offer Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care designed to work directly with your child’s nervous system. This approach helps release physical stress patterns and restore neurological resilience—essentially recharging that depleted battery.

Parents often report better sleep, fewer meltdowns, improved digestion, and greater emotional stability—not because we’re treating seasonal depression, but because we’re helping the nervous system move out of survival mode.

Your Next Step

You don’t have to accept another difficult winter.

You can take charge of your child’s health by addressing the root cause: their nervous system’s depleted capacity.

• Recognize the pattern: Predictable seasonal struggles signal a nervous system that needs support
• Stop blaming yourself: This isn’t about failure—it’s about understanding your child’s needs
• Seek specialized care: Schedule a consultation at Van Every Family Chiropractic Center. If you are not local to us, explore the PX Docs Directory to find an office near you
• Trust the process: Nervous system healing takes time, but the results can be profound

This winter can be different. With the right support, your child can move through the darker months with energy, emotional stability, and resilience.

You’ve been an incredible advocate for your child. Now it’s time to support the nervous system at the root of their struggles—and help them truly thrive.