How the Full Moon Impacts Your Mood
One of the most consistently searched and read posts on my blog is “How the Full Moon Impacts My Mood.” And there’s a simple reason why: many people notice real changes in their sleep, emotions, and nervous system around the full moon.
For some, it shows up as difficulty falling asleep or waking in the middle of the night. For others, it’s heightened irritability, emotional sensitivity, or anxiety. These experiences are especially common in people with sensitive nervous systems or those who have experienced trauma and still carry unprocessed stress in the body.
The Energetic Purpose of the Full Moon
Energetically, the full moon represents a time of illumination and release.
Its role is not to create problems, but to bring awareness to what’s already there—resentments you’ve been holding onto, patterns that no longer serve you, or situations that feel misaligned, such as a job, relationship, or belief about yourself.
The full moon shines light into the darker, less conscious places—what many refer to as our shadows. When these parts surface, you may feel more emotional, reactive, or unsettled. Sleep may become lighter or disrupted. This isn’t a failure of regulation; it’s a revealing moment.
Trauma, the Nervous System, and the Full Moon
If you’ve experienced trauma or prolonged stress, your nervous system may already live closer to a state of vigilance. During the full moon, when emotional and sensory input feels amplified, this can lead to feeling more anxious or dysregulated.
Rather than resisting this, the invitation is to pause and reflect.
Ask yourself:
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What am I avoiding right now?
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What feels unresolved or draining my energy?
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What area of my life needs my attention?
Then sit with it—ideally with pen and paper. Writing allows the subconscious to communicate what the conscious mind often avoids. Ignoring these signals doesn’t make them disappear; it simply costs more energy to suppress them, often affecting your mood, relationships, and sense of peace.
A Different Way to Relate to the Full Moon
Instead of becoming frustrated by how the full moon affects you, consider it a gentle nudge toward alignment. A moment to release what’s no longer working so you can move toward greater harmony—within yourself and in how you relate to the world.
The full moon isn’t here to disrupt you.
It’s here to guide you back to balance.
The New Moon: A Time for Growth
In contrast, the new moon is a time of quiet potential. It’s ideal for planting seeds—setting intentions, envisioning goals, and nurturing what you want to grow. Where the full moon asks you to let go, the new moon invites you to begin again.
Both are necessary.
Both are part of the same cycle.
