Wellbeing Wednesday #20: The weather and your wellbeing

So I have a confession. I totally forgot to post yesterday... I'd like to blame the fact that it was 37'C in Berlin yesterday and I genuinely couldn't think straight... but mostly I just forgot. I'm sorry!

An interesting topic though, heat. Does the weather affect your mood? I definitely find myself more anxious and down in the winter. During the winter months, we can be affected by something called SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder where cold temperatures and a lack of sunlight is known cause many people to feel depressed during this time.

In the summer months, we can be effected by extreme heat too, though. This is evidenced by an increase in psychiatric hospitalisations, violent crimes, irritability, suicides and angry mood during the summer months. Last year in the UK during the heatwave divorces were apparently at an all time high! I wonder whether that trend will follow this year as we're set for the longest heatwave of the last 40 years...

However, one study into the influence of temperature on people’s sense of well-being, found a particularly striking effect: “A day with temperature above 32[°C’ (relative to one in the 20s) has a bigger effect on the net affect than being divorced or widowed (relative to being married),” wrote the paper’s author Marie Connolly, professor of economics at the University of Quebec...

There are many types of medication that can make it more difficult for people during a heat wave. For example, a property in some anti-psychotic medications is that it can increase one’s sensitivity to heat. There are also other medications that make it necessary that the user limits exposure to sunlight. Research has shown that elderly people are more vulnerable to the physical and mental impact that heat can have.

If you want to improve your mental health over the coming hot summer months it is important to stay hydrated – drink LOTS of water, wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses or any other sun protective gear you have, if you need to go out try and schedule it for the morning or evening when the sun isn’t so intense. If you’re required to be in the sun for things such as employment, it is a good idea to talk with your GP about how you might be able to protect yourself during a heat wave.

Please think about those around you too, and try to be more patient with irritability and stress during these hot days - if you're feeling hot and stressed in your office it's likely everyone else is too. Most importantly, if you feel like you’re having difficulty or your psychological wellbeing is deteriorating – talk to someone. Be it a trusted friend, loved one or health professional, reach out.