Cyclical fluctuations in weather patterns exhausting populace - Oscillating weather patterns leading to illness in people explained
How the Rollercoaster Weather Can Ride Your Mood: Unraveling the Link Between Weather and Depression
(By Tina Pokern)(+ - 3 Min read)
"Dour days, dour days in gloom. Dull, drab, dreary, chilly tomb" - Singer-songwriter Isolation Berlin sums up the prevailing weather mood in parts of Germany quite fittingly. As the winter sets in and the days get shorter, it's no wonder that some of us feel our spirits dipping below zero. While poor weather has long been shrugged off as a trivial factor affecting our emotions, recent research reveals it may be more significant than we think, especially for those susceptible to mood swings or depression.
In a survey commissioned by the German Environment Agency, around 38% of the 1600 survey participants reported that bad weather affects their health negatively, particularly during cold and stormy conditions. The blues, fatigue, disturbed sleep, and headaches were among the most common weather-influenced complaints. German Weather Service even offers biowether forecasts now, highlighting the growing interest in understanding the connection between weather and emotions.
A dance of hormones and weather
The dance of sun, clouds, and storms is not merely an annoyance but can also disrupt our hormonal balance. Take melatonin, a hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycles. Higher levels in the body can make it hard to fall asleep, causing fatigue, and excessive production can lead to constant tiredness. Melatonin production is primarily triggered by darkness, so when daylight hours are short, as in winter, melatonin levels tend to rise, potentially messing up our internal clock, sleep patterns, and, consequently, our mood [2].
If symptoms persist for extended periods, depression can take hold. While there's much to learn about the complex relationship between weather and depression, a severe, long-lasting depression that some people experience during specific seasons, known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), can largely be attributed to disrupted melatonin levels and reduced sunlight exposure [5].
Less explored, though just as important, is the "summer depression," which arises when the melatonin level plummets, upsetting the mood balance [2]. Besides hormones, stress levels and overall health status also play a role in weather sensitivity.
Tackling stormy emotions
Approximately 10-20% of the population experiences a mild form of seasonal depression, manifested by difficulty waking up in the mornings, persistent tiredness, and a sweet tooth craving. Severe depressive episodes might involve daytime fatigue, exhaustion, anxiety, and a lack of drive. In such cases, consultation with a specialist is advisable to determine the underlying cause, whether it's seasonal or otherwise [6].
To brighten your mood on gloomy days, consider activities like short walks, even if the outdoors aren't inviting. Remember, UV light can still penetrate cloudy skies, so it's best to spend at least an hour outside daily. Another option is to use therapeutic lamps with 2500 to 10,000 lux to mimic the effects of sunlight.
- Weather
- Depression
- Mood Swings
Sources:
[1] The Weather Channel, March 2021, "How Weather Affects Your Mood: The Science of 'Meteoropathy'" | https://weathersystems.co.uk/blog/weather-and-mood[2] Mayo Clinic, October 2020, "Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)" | https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20375754[3] Psychology Today, July 2019, "Why Weather Affects Our Moods" | https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/hang-together/201907/why-weather-affects-our-moods[4] National Health Service, January 2022, "Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)" | https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/[5] National Institutes of Health, December 2021, "Seasonal Affective Disorder" | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519889/[6] Neurologists and Psychiatrists Online, Here and Now, "Seasonal Depression" | https://netdoktor.de/gesundheit/stimmung/saisonal-depression/
- The singer-songwriter Isolation Berlin aptly describes the depressive mood triggered by the weather in parts of Germany.
- A survey by the German Environment Agency reported that 38% of participants felt their health negatively affected by bad weather, particularly during cold and stormy conditions.
- The dance of sun, clouds, and storms can disrupt our hormonal balance, affecting our sleep patterns and mood, particularly melatonin levels during winter.
- Depression can take hold if symptoms persist for extended periods, with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) often attributed to disrupted melatonin levels and reduced sunlight exposure.
- Maintaining a health-and-wellness routine, such as spending an hour outside daily, using therapeutic lamps, and practicing fitness-and-exercise, may help alleviate the effects of weather-induced mood swings and depression.
- For those experiencing severe depressive episodes, consultation with a mental-health professional is advisable to determine the underlying cause and appropriate therapies-and-treatments.
