November Newsletter

Why November Feels So Hard (And Why It Might Be Exactly What We Need)

I spent years thinking January was the toughest month of the year.
But the more I see in clinic, and the more honest I am with myself, the more I realise that November quietly wins.

It’s the combination of things:

• the days suddenly drawing in

• the rain settling in for the long haul

• the light disappearing too early

• spring feeling far, far away

• our bodies shifting into winter mode long before our minds catch up

And I’ve felt it myself this month. The emotional heaviness, the tiredness, the sense that everything is just a bit too much.

But I’m also learning something important:

November is not a failure of energy, it’s a seasonal instruction.

It’s the body saying:
Slow down.
Hibernate a little.
Rest.
Heal.
Rebuild.

And interestingly, this mirrors what I see with our thyroid patients every year.

---

Why November is a tough month for thyroid health

When the light disappears and the cold sets in, a few things happen:

1. Cortisol rises earlier and stays higher
Darker mornings make it harder to get going, and the stress system compensates.
That wired-but-tired feeling?
That’s November.

2. Your thyroid has to work harder to keep your temperature steady
Colder weather = more metabolic demand.
Many people feel more sluggish, achy and fatigued at this time of year.

3. The immune system stirs
Winter infections, less vitamin D, more inflammation, symptoms often flare.

So if you’re feeling low, slow, tired or “not quite right” in November… it’s not in your head.
It’s seasonal physiology.

---

But here’s the important part

November isn’t about pushing through.
It’s about allowing.

This month gives us permission to:

• take things gently

• choose warmth and rest

• protect our energy

• sleep earlier

• nourish ourselves properly

• stop fighting the season and start moving with it

And in that slowing down, there is something surprisingly restorative.

I’m realising that November gives us exactly what our thyroid, our nervous system, and our emotional selves actually need:

A pause.
A breath.
A softening.
A moment to gather ourselves before winter truly begins.

---

So if you’re struggling this month, you’re not alone.

I’m right there too, feeling the shift, letting things settle, finding comfort in small routines, and remembering that my body isn’t malfunctioning.

November doesn’t need to be the cliff it feels like, it can be the cocoon, be more like my dachshund Lottie - find the little bits of sun to bathe in when its there, or otherwise cosy up in a soft blanket and chill!

And if you’d like a bit of support through the winter months, keep following on Substack or socials we’ll be sharing gentle, practical tips all through December.

---

This month on Substack:

• Understanding Cortisol, The Adrenals and the HPA Axis - A simple, breakdown of how the body responds to stress, why we test cortisol and what it means, why so many people feel “wired and tired”, and how cortisol affects thyroid symptoms more than most realise.

• Understanding a Suppressed TSH on combination Thyroid Therapy- A clear explanation of why TSH often falls on T3-containing medication, what this means clinically, and why a suppressed TSH is not automatically unsafe.

• Why Current Thyroid Care Limits Patient Choice and How We Can Change That - A practical look at the gaps in current UK thyroid care, why patients feel unheard, and what a better, more personalised approach actually looks like.

---

Housekeeping

With Christmas approaching, things naturally begin to slow down, and most services stop a few days before the 25th. Please make sure you have enough medication to carry you through to January, and if you’re due blood tests, order them early to avoid any festive delays.

Best wishes

The Thyroid Clinic + Team