The rain in Nanjing is making me moldy, and on cloudy days, I feel inexplicably low in mood. Is it due to hormonal effects or my own problems? "Recently, many people have reported that due to the continuous rainy weather, they have experienced low mood, lack of concentration, poor sleep, and even inexplicably restlessness, fatigue, and exhaustion. Is this a physical problem or simply a 'weather disaster'? The reporter interviewed Hou Zhenghua, Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine at Southeast University Affiliated Zhongda Hospital. Why do emotions become moldy when the light decreases? After the Spring Festival holiday, there has been a significant increase in patients seeking medical attention due to insomnia and anxiety. ”Hou Zhenghua told reporters that many people have irregular schedules during holidays, making it difficult for them to quickly return to work after the holiday, which can easily lead to the so-called 'post holiday syndrome'. In addition, with the recent continuous rainy weather and low temperatures, people's mental state is easily affected by multiple factors. Why does cloudy and rainy weather affect emotions? Hou Zhenghua explained that this is clinically referred to as "seasonal emotional changes". As the seasons change, some people may experience symptoms similar to depressive episodes, such as low mood, poor sleep, drowsiness, etc. This situation is more common in autumn and winter seasons, mainly due to reduced light exposure. He explained that light directly affects the secretion of melatonin, a key hormone that regulates sleep. If the daylight hours are short or there is less outdoor activity, it may cause a delay in the peak secretion of melatonin, thereby disrupting the circadian rhythm, manifested as difficulty falling asleep at night and drowsiness during the day, ultimately affecting mood and energy. On the other hand, insufficient serotonin is also an important factor. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter related to emotion regulation, and reduced light exposure can affect the synthesis of vitamin D3, which may in turn affect the production of serotonin. Once the level of serotonin decreases, people are prone to problems such as low mood, decreased motivation, and changes in appetite. At the same time, rainy days also restrict outdoor activities and socializing, which can easily lead people into a cycle of negative emotions. For most people, this is far from the level of illness. ”Hou Zhenghua pointed out that on rainy and cloudy days, one's mood is poor, they don't want to move, they love to sleep, and they are prone to sadness. These are usually short-term stress reactions that have little impact on work and life, and only belong to "seasonal emotional fluctuations". He reminded that if problems such as low mood and poor sleep persist for more than two weeks and do not improve even after the weather clears up, they need to be taken seriously. It is recommended to go to a psychological department for professional evaluation to rule out potential problems such as "seasonal affective disorder". Expert advice, proactively "recharge" emotions. Faced with possible continuous rainy weather, how should we proactively regulate our emotions? Hou Zhenghua suggests that everyone should go out and engage in activities as much as possible to recharge their bodies, which is beneficial for emotional recovery. Even on cloudy days, the outdoor lighting intensity is better than indoors. As long as the rain stops or the weather clears briefly, people should still go out and walk more, especially teenagers and the elderly, and consciously increase social interaction and moderate exercise. ”Appropriately increasing outdoor activities can help synthesize vitamin D3, and if lacking, it can be supplemented under the guidance of a doctor. In terms of diet, one can eat more fish, shrimp, eggs, green vegetables, and nuts, and supplement nutrients such as tryptophan that are beneficial for emotional regulation. Hou Zhenghua mentioned that there are currently specialized light therapy methods in clinical practice, using specialized lamps with a light intensity of 10000 lux for treatment. There are also household lighting fixtures on the market that can illuminate for about half an hour every day on rainy days. He reminds patients diagnosed with depression or anxiety that during the rainy season or long, cold winter, the usual dosage of medication may not be sufficient and needs to be adjusted appropriately under the guidance of a doctor. People with sensitive personalities or those facing significant stress are more susceptible to the influence of weather and need to take proactive measures to regulate themselves, so as not to be trapped by depressive emotions. (New Society)