Weather and our Psychological Health
Biometeorologists have noted that our morale and state of mind can be affected by changes in the weather. In particular, heatwaves have been seen to affect tiredness, headaches, insomnia, bad temper and forgetfulness. It is harder to work productively in over-heated environments, and incidents of road rage and accidents increase when the mercury rises. In hot weather the body produces chemicals which impair judgement and reduce concentration. Adding in the traffic jams during holiday periods and the mechanical problems that increase, it is probably better to stay off the road altogether.
Weather and Depression
Serious mental conditions such as schizophrenia and manic depression are said to worsen with changes in the weather, and suicide rates are affected too. Hot weather is also linked with higher levels of street violence and attacks, as well as rioting and unrest. The hot dry Fohn and Scirocco winds are said to damage the health - in Germany the accident, crime and suicide rates rise during the Fohn, whilst the Scirocco is said to cause madness.
Winter weather brings us a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. This is a type of clinical depression linked with the lack of sunlight during the winter months. It causes lethargy, sadness, loss of appetite and disturbed sleep but it is still argued by some that this is just a bout of mid-winter blues rather than an actual illness. It has been treated successfully in many cases by exposing patients to strong artificial daylight and some people buy special 'daylight' bulbs for their house plants and themselves!
10 Weather Phobias
- Brontophobia - Fear of thunder
- Astrapophobia - Fear of lightning
- Anemophobia - Fear of wind
- Chionophobia - Fear of snow
- Cryophobia - Fear of ice and frost
- Heliophobia - Fear of the Sun and light
- Homichlophobia - Fear of fog
- Nephelophobia - Fear of clouds
- Ombrophobia - Fear of rain
- Psychrophobia - Fear of cold
