The weather affects our psyche, emotions, and mood – this is an indisputable fact. But how does our body react to changes of season, shifts in weather, sunny and overcast conditions? Why does this happen and how can we cope with negative emotions in bad weather? We will talk about this with psychotherapist Ekaterina Dombrovskaya.
Both in antiquity and today
The influence of different kinds of weather on people was noticed as far back as antiquity. Our activity largely depends on the season, weather conditions, and even the time of day. On fine spring days, when it grows warmer, we experience a surge of feelings and emotions; we long for love and romance. On rainy, cold days we have no desire even to leave the house. Our mood is low, we want to wrap ourselves up more warmly in a blanket, lie down in bed, and simply be alone. In clear weather the mood is naturally higher; we want to be outside, to take a walk. And in rain and foul weather it is all the opposite.
Biology plus psychology – equals a human being
both physical and mental, are simultaneously influenced by both biological factors and social ones – the influence of the society in which we live. From this the whole complex of our psycho-emotional reactions is formed.
In many respects, the reactions on the part of the physical body are conditioned by a whole complex of responses. This includes the dose of vitamin D received in sunny weather, which has hormonal activity and stimulates metabolism. Under the influence of the sun's rays, the release of serotonin and dopamine – the hormones of pleasure – is stimulated. Warmth and the intake of vitamin D contribute to this.
During the dark hours, our bodies begin to produce melatonin – the hormone of sleep and relaxation. That is why overcast weather, when it grows darker because of the gathered clouds, tunes us in on a subconscious level – night is near.
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The nervous system regulates our life
No less important are the reactions on the part of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's connection with the external environment. Over the course of evolution, the human body changed its reactions to the surrounding environment, adapting to life in various climatic conditions. Today we have come almost right up to the perfection of this system, especially given the appearance of various kinds of clothing, warm and comfortable housing, and various gadgets and devices that improve our lives.
That is why our body reacts in a certain way to weather changes – fluctuations in temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, light levels, and so on. Depending on external conditions, the frequency and depth of breathing change, as do the degree of tissue oxygen saturation, the pulse rate, and blood pressure. And this is what regulates our sensations and behavior, our emotions. If blood pressure is lowered, the pulse is slowed, and there is less oxygen in the blood – we feel drowsy, weak, we yawn, we are too lazy to do anything, we want to lie down and rest.
On sunny days the pulse quickens, blood pressure rises, and this affects emotional tone. We are more active and cheerful. This spurs us to leave the house, to be more active. From an evolutionary standpoint, in such weather it was easier to obtain food, whereas mud and slush were not conducive to successful hunting and gathering of roots.
A 6-year-old girl with an allergy to cold is afraid to go outside – the weather could kill her
Our attitude toward the weather – comes from childhood
In terms of the biological regulation of behavior and mood, we have not gone far from the little animals, but besides the biological component of the body there is also a social one.
This too has an influence, but in most cases the influence has more of a cultural conditioning; we live in the grip of stereotypes, of habitual models of behavior.
For example, many people have had lodged in their heads since childhood the romantic image of a girl sitting, wrapped in a blanket, on a windowsill, watching the rain with a book in her hands. A nearly obligatory accessory should be a mug of hot coffee or tea, or cocoa. This is a kind of cross-cultural image that we absorbed from childhood practically with our mother's milk.
This is what most people think – we consider such behavior to be the correct program. On a subconscious level we too want to wrap ourselves in a blanket, drink hot tea, and watch a romantic melodrama. Programs form in our heads – «rain – sadness», «wind – anxiety», «sun – joy». It turns out that when the weather changes, our brain simply «switches on» the appropriate program of behavior and emotional background that was instilled in it back in early childhood.
If you form new attitudes toward bad weather, doing so consciously, your blues will pass. We ourselves create our mood and emotions.
To feel better
In dank, cold, or damp weather, create your own mood. Turn on bright, warm light, pleasant music, take up a favorite activity – all this will improve your mood. You can conduct an experiment – go out for a walk in the rain. Just dress warmly so as not to get chilled. The damp, cool air makes breathing easier, and the raindrops calm the nerves.
You can invite guests over, change your surroundings – all this will improve your mood and normalize your mental state.
