Increasing our insight into what makes us tic, not only sets us up for success, but can also help us to know what to do when we are struggling.

That’s the goal and my focus on brain chemistry and other resilience-based strategies to help you manage stress.

As a therapist, I’ve often heard what sounded like a connection between mood and weather. A study in 2011 reviewed the emotional impacts related to the percentage of sunshine, hours of precipitation and average temperature across a day. The findings were that many people experience  different emotional reactions to these elements, labeled  “Summer Lovers”; “Summer Haters” and “Rain Haters”.

I’m not sure I would want to be identified as a Hater of rain or sun, and I believe it is okay to acknowledge if the weather is impacting how you feel.  It is relevant to note that some people report they are not emotionally unaffected by the weather. Are people truly unaffected by the weather, I’m not so sure – perhaps it depends how long it has been very hot, cold, or rainy and perhaps this may also be impacted by stressors co-occurring in their lives (just a hunch).

What this research brings up for me, is if weather impacts people differently, it could be useful to know, if the weather impacts you and how. Gaining an understanding of this can increase insight into when it may be useful to layer in some additional coping strategies.

Toronto has recently had a stretch of  grey/overcast days. Between December 29^th and January 13^th, there was only one afternoon of sun. I wonder if people living in areas with several grey days noticed a change in mood or anxiety (positive or negative). If you live in an area that has been overcast and/or grey, check in with yourself – how have you been feeling? Have you noticed irritability, happiness, or anxiety?

There may be several other things going on, which may be contributing to how you feel.

To increase your insight about what makes you tic – here is the challenge:

1. Notice if irritability, happiness, or fear show up for you in the next 3 weeks.
2. Notice the weather.
3. Document your mood and the weather on a calendar.
4. Notice if there appears to be a pattern.

By getting to know how (or if) various types of weather impact your mood, you can prepare yourself with strategies in advance to conquer the day.

Stay tuned…strategies to manage mood will be integrated into my social media posts for the month of February.

I’m also going to invite you to notice if irritability or fear is showing up often throughout your day, week, and month. If so, please reach out for support. You don’t have to ‘power through’ low moods, stress, irritability, or anxiety. You deserve to feel better, please don’t wait.

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Klimstra, T. A., Frijns, T., Keijsers, L., Denissen, J. J., Raaijmakers, Q. A., Van Aken, M. A., … & Meeus, W. H. (2011). Come rain or come shine: individual differences in how weather affects mood. Emotion, 11(6), 1495.

Edward Djan (Fri., Jan. 13, 2023) Live in Toronto and feel like you haven’t seen the sun in weeks? You’re not wrong. The Toronto Star.