Weather can have an emotional impact on our day to day lives. On a summer’s day, when a person wakes up and looks out of their window, to see the sun shining, they will feel a lovely warm fuzzy feeling and start the day, in a happy content mood. On the contrary when a person looks out the window and to their dismay they are faced with a miserable rainy day, this can make them feel down and dejected.
Temperature affects our moods and how we behave throughout the day and night. For example, when it is too cold, this puts people in a negative frame of mind and makes people withdraw away from society. Most people just want to stay in the comfort of their own homes where they can be warm. In contrast when the weather is too hot this can make people become hot and disconcerted. They lack energy and will tend to be easily agitated by others. Statistics show that in New York, the murder rate rises as the temperature increases and most big riots are as a result of hot, humid nights.
Rain can put people in a miserable mood because of the gloomy feel it brings, as it turns the sky turns grey. People often become bored easier as they have to stay indoors to keep dry. I remember, when I was younger and at school when it was raining we would have a “wet playtime” this meant that everyone would have to stay inside and play. If it rained all day, and we had to spend break and lunch indoors, everyone would become bored and full of energy that they couldn’t use up because it was too wet outside; and we were not allowed to run around in the classroom.
Also at the workplace, the atmosphere can often become stuffy with everyone staying indoors and people can become easily aggravated and displeased.
A sunny day…not too hot…can bring out the best in folks, as most people are in a good mood and everyone gets along with one another. The sunny weather brings calm, laid back feeling around us all. However with this weather it often makes individuals tired as the sun takes in their energy. In some hot places in the world it is customary to take an afternoon nap, a siesta, to keep out of the hottest part of the day and be fresh and energised in the evening.
Everyone loves the snow, as it lays, a thick blanket across the ground, and the sun shines down. There is a rush to go out and do all of the activities that come with the snow laying, like snow fights and making a snowman. However when it comes to blizzards, this can put people down and feel dejected. In places such as Siberia, people who become trapped in a strong severe blizzard can be blinded from the swirling snow taking no mercy or consideration of its victims.
Thunder and Lighting can dampen people’s sprits as the connotations of this weather are loud, daunting and frightening. This is the same for other extreme weather such as windstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes. These all make people afraid and withdrawn as they fear for their lives and personal property.
With all of these types of weather, which occur seasonally, it is not surprising that there are different parts of the year when people are happier than other times. S.A.D (seasonal affective disorder) influences thousands of peoples’ lives across the world; it is also known as the “winter blues”. As the mnemonic spells “sad” it indicates the condition that a person has who is diagnosed with this disorder. It is a condition which people become frequently lethargic and completely drained of energy. This is because the lack of light causes can increase in the production of the hormone Melatonin (this makes you tired at night) and it reduces the production of the hormone Serotonin. The lack of the Serotonin hormone in your body leads to depression.
As most of us lead busy, hectic day to day lives this can be a major cause of this disorder. The modern lifestyle can mean peoples days are longer; people no more start their day at dawn and end it at sunset as they did historically years ago. Also with the invention of electric lighting and social gatherings being commonly held at night; these are all factors than can put a strain on people’s natural body clocks; and result in someone getting diagnosed with S.A.D.
The S.A.D symptoms will normally run its course from September to April as these are the coldest, darkest months in the year, it can lead to depression and so if any of the symptoms in this article are relating to you; it is a good idea to seek professional help.
If you seek professional help and you are diagnosed with S.A.D you may have to undergo light therapy of which you should start to feel the benefit from 7-10 days.
Whatever the weather, it will affect in you in some way even if it is good or bad. If you find that the weather is having a negative impact on your daily life and you think so may have the symptoms of S.A.D you should not hesitate to seek medical help; stamp out the problem once and for all.
Sources
The usborne internet-linked encyclopedia of world geography (book)
