Why Your Teen is "Grumpier" in Winter: The Nervous System and The Cold
Living in Ontario, we all know the "Winter Blues." But for neurodivergent teens, the shift in season is often more than just a dislike of the cold—it’s a physiological shift in the nervous system.
If you’ve noticed your teen becoming more withdrawn, "lazy," or harder to motivate since the snow fell, they might not be acting out. They might be in a state of Dorsal Vagal Shutdown.
The "Hibernation" Response
In Polyvagal Theory, the "Dorsal Vagal" state is our oldest survival mechanism. It’s the "freeze" response. When the nervous system detects a threat it can't fight or flee from, it shuts down to conserve energy.
Winter triggers this state for many ADHD and Autistic brains because:
Sensory Deprivation: The world is quieter, darker, and visually greyer. The "dopamine menu" of summer is gone.
Physical constriction: We huddle against the cold, tightening our muscles, which signals "danger" to the body.
Circadian Disruption: Less sunlight means less serotonin and disrupted sleep cycles, which are already fragile in neurodivergent teens.
How the Barn Wakes Up the System
At Heart Horse Counselling, winter sessions look a little different, but they are often the most potent. We don't try to force a "shutdown" teen to be high-energy. Instead, we use the barn to offer gentle, warming sensory input.
Thermal Regulation: Leaning against a warm horse in a cold arena is a powerful sensory contrast. That heat transfer releases oxytocin and signals safety to the body.
Essential Movement: You have to move to stay warm in the cold barn. This movement isn't exercise; it's survival. It gently pushes the nervous system up the ladder from "Freeze" to "Mobilization" without the pressure of a gym class.
Visual Stimulation: Even in winter, the horses are vibrant. The steam of their breath, the texture of their winter coats, the crunch of snow—these are "glimmers" that pierce through the grey fog of depression.
The Takeaway
If your teen is struggling this January, try not to view it as a behavioural issue. Their battery is in "power save mode." Our goal isn't to force them to run a marathon, but to bring them to the paddock, let them bury their hands in a warm mane, and remind their nervous system that it’s safe to wake up.
References & Further Reading
The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy by Deb Dana (specifically on the rhythms of regulation).
Wintering by Katherine May (a great recommendation for parents).
