If you flare-up in the middle of a conversation even over the phone with no apparent reason, the person on the other line most probably thinks that the weather in your area is scorching hot. Believe it or not, weather changes affect your mood, and sometimes it is uncontrollable.
Mr. Webster defines mood as a “conscious state of mind or predominant emotion.” In short, when the weather changes, what you think at the moment or what you feel is affected by them. No wonder, many accidents usually happen in summer or hot weather.
I also notice that during summer, people quickly lose their patience with some trivial things and situations. For example, when I was traveling to visit my long-lost friend in the countryside, I witnessed a horrible incident that until now I cannot forget. It happened last year during summer and the heat was so intense. We were caught in a traffic jam and were helpless because there was no way out.
I was looking outside and the driver of the car in front of us was honking his horn continuously. The noise was so annoying and almost unbearable. The driver of the car beside him got out of the car and started shouting at him with invectives and other insulting words. The driver of the car in front of us did not retaliate nor did he get out of his car and was trying to make the other man finish with his shouting and yelling.
A middle-aged woman got out of the car to pacify the man who was shouting on top of his voice. Probably, the woman was the man’s wife or a relative. However, the man was out of control and continuously shouted to the other driver. Then, all of sudden, he fired his gun at the man shouting and at the woman who was beside him. It was a frightening and horrible sight.
When the couple fell and was bleeding profusely. Other men came out of their cars but the man kept on shooting at them. About five of them were shot and were killed instantly. We were shocked and so frightened by the gory scene. Luckily, there were patrol cars that came and the police arrested the killer and the situation was aggravated. It took us almost the whole afternoon to free ourselves from the stressful traffic and horrible scene we were able to witness.
Although I am not sure what the shooter was thinking right at that moment when he was in the middle of heavy traffic, whether he had a nagging problem or it was because of the blazing heat of the sun, that he became really mad.
Anyway, there are scientific truths about our mood changing along with the change in the weather. You have the right to debunk or believe them but just the same, they are also informative and food for thought. Here are some of them as discussed in a published online article (https://www.bustle.com/) for your reading pleasure.
- Cold temperature can make you lethargic - Cold temperatures reduce sensory feedback, dexterity, muscle strength, blood flow, and balance, which can impact your performance of complex physical tasks
- Rain can make you eat more - The lack of sunlight associated with rainy days can cause serotonin levels to dip, and as serotonin levels decrease, carbohydrate cravings increase.
- Sunlight makes you a big spender - Researchers found that exposure to sunlight is associated with higher levels of spending. Since sunshine makes us feel more positive, consequently, it also causes us to shop more.
- Spending time outdoors can improve your memory and can boost creativity - “Researchers from a 2004 University of Michigan study found that people who spent at least 30 minutes outside during periods of pleasant weather reported improved mood, memory, and openness to new information and creative thoughts.
- “Rain can cause pain” - As atmospheric pressure decreases, clouds and rain become much more likely. This reduction in atmospheric pressure allows bodily fluids to move from blood vessels to tissues, causing pressure on the nerves and joints, which leads to increased pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility.
- “Lack of sunshine can make you sad” - A lack of sunlight can cause Seasonal Affective Disorder. Appropriately known as SAD, this mood disorder usually affects people from October through April when daylight becomes more scarce.
When exposed to less sunlight, your body produces more melatonin, the hormone which makes you feel sleepy. And just as your body begins craving mid-day naps, your brain begins producing lower levels of serotonin — the neurotransmitter that affects mood, appetite, sleep, and sexual desire. Simply put, SAD can make you feel sad.
On the other hand, our mental health is also affected by weather changes as our mood or feeling becomes intense. Another published article (https://www.enlightenedsolutions.com/) indicated the following in relation to mental health.
Tempers flare in the heat - "research suggests that hot weather may make us more anxious, irritable, and even violent. For example, one study found that people with panic disorder tended to have the most problems during the August heat and that they were more sensitive to weather changes in general. It is also well documented that rates of violent crime tend to increase in hot weather."
So, the shooting incident that happened while we're traveling to the countryside might be also influenced by the intensely hot weather.
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