Do seasons affect hormones or vice-versa?
Keera Ann Fox
extremely cranky. The one September I was not as cranky as during the
other three was after a regularly rainy summer. The other three have
been after a very warm and sunny summer.
So, since any physical changes I can't otherwise explain ends up being
due to peri, I was wondering if sunshine or heat can affect hormones or
peri symptoms.
--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/
marcy
> I've been experiencing a weird one the last four Septembers: I get
> extremely cranky. The one September I was not as cranky as during the
> other three was after a regularly rainy summer. The other three have
> been after a very warm and sunny summer.
>
> So, since any physical changes I can't otherwise explain ends up being
> due to peri, I was wondering if sunshine or heat can affect hormones or
> peri symptoms.
Sounds more like "Seasonal Affective Disorder".
From the Mayo Clinic
S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) Definition
"Like many people, you may develop cabin fever during the winter
months. Or you may find yourself eating more or sleeping more when the
temperature drops and darkness falls earlier. While those are common
and normal reactions to the changing seasons, people with seasonal
affective disorder (SAD) experience a much more serious reaction when
summer shifts to fall and on to winter.
With seasonal affective disorder, fall's short days and long nights
may trigger feelings of depression, lethargy, fatigue and other
problems. Don't brush this off as simply a case of the "winter blues"
that you have to tough out on your own.
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression, and it can
severely impair your daily life. That said, treatment — which may
include light box therapy — can help you successfully manage seasonal
affective disorder. You don't have to dread the dawning of each fall
or winter. "
Here is a link to the article:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195
Keera Ann Fox
> x-no-archive: yhes
>
> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
> > I've been experiencing a weird one the last four Septembers: I get
> > extremely cranky. The one September I was not as cranky as during the
> > other three was after a regularly rainy summer. The other three have
> > been after a very warm and sunny summer.
> >
> > So, since any physical changes I can't otherwise explain ends up being
> > due to peri, I was wondering if sunshine or heat can affect hormones or
> > peri symptoms.
> >
>
> YES. I was really shocked to learn last year that Vit. D. is a hormone,
> not a nutrient. It's a steroid hormone. All steroid hormones affect
> mood, suppress other hormones when in abundance and have a wide variety
> of effects as a result.
>
> Interesting that less, not more daylight made you less cranky. I get
> adrenally suppressed by vit D., and irritable and cranky when I'm low. I
> don't tolerate sunlight when it's even a little warm outside any more, I
> get chest pains, dizziness and feel faint due to it's adrenal suppressive
> effects.
I was deliberately trying for an extra dose of sunshine this summer,
shoring up for the winter, as it were. Our good summers are much hotter
than they used to be, with temperatures in the 80's vs. the usual 70's
so maybe there's something there. Perhaps the temperamental blip in
September is the price to pay to stay cheerful in January.
Keera Ann Fox
> Keera Ann wrote:
>
> > I've been experiencing a weird one the last four Septembers: I get
> > extremely cranky. The one September I was not as cranky as during the
> > other three was after a regularly rainy summer. The other three have
> > been after a very warm and sunny summer.
> >
> > So, since any physical changes I can't otherwise explain ends up being
> > due to peri, I was wondering if sunshine or heat can affect hormones or
> > peri symptoms.
>
> Sounds more like "Seasonal Affective Disorder".
>
> From the Mayo Clinic
>
> S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) Definition
>
> "Like many people, you may develop cabin fever during the winter
> months. Or you may find yourself eating more or sleeping more when the
> temperature drops and darkness falls earlier. While those are common
> and normal reactions to the changing seasons, people with seasonal
> affective disorder (SAD) experience a much more serious reaction when
> summer shifts to fall and on to winter.
I never thought of that. Still, it's odd. I'm getting cranky
_especially_ after a sunny summer - and sunshine is supposed to
counteract SAD.
> With seasonal affective disorder, fall's short days and long nights
> may trigger feelings of depression, lethargy, fatigue and other
> problems. Don't brush this off as simply a case of the "winter blues"
> that you have to tough out on your own.
I usually don't notice any of that until the days really are shorter -
in winter. Fall's a favorite time of the year.
> Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression, and it can
> severely impair your daily life. That said, treatment — which may
> include light box therapy — can help you successfully manage seasonal
> affective disorder. You don't have to dread the dawning of each fall
> or winter. "
>
>
> Here is a link to the article:
>
> http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195
Cathy F.
"Keera Ann Fox" <thinkbig.s...@online.no> wrote in message
news:1inv4u1.108d0331ynskamN%thinkbig.s...@online.no...
> I've been experiencing a weird one the last four Septembers: I get
> extremely cranky. The one September I was not as cranky as during the
> other three was after a regularly rainy summer. The other three have
> been after a very warm and sunny summer.
>
> So, since any physical changes I can't otherwise explain ends up being
> due to peri, I was wondering if sunshine or heat can affect hormones or
> peri symptoms.
Per the end of your first paragraph, maybe - pure guesswork here - due to a
general change in temps & more low air pressure systems? IOW, sort of akin
to when some people (incl. me) feel cranky/irritable when it's reasonably
warm, but very windy outside. (There's a name for this latter phenomenon,
but I don't remember it. Starts with an "m", I think, w/ 2 or 3
syllables...)
Cathy
Jette
This summer hasn't been a summer in Scotland. Very little sunshine -
heavy overcast, lots of rain. I fear we're heading into winter
already low on Vit D.
--
Jette Goldie
je...@blueyonder.co.uk
http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
http://wolfette.livejournal.com/
("reply to" is spamblocked - use the email addy in sig)
Keera Ann Fox
> "Keera Ann Fox" <thinkbig.s...@online.no> wrote in message
> news:1inv4u1.108d0331ynskamN%thinkbig.s...@online.no...
> > I've been experiencing a weird one the last four Septembers: I get
> > extremely cranky. The one September I was not as cranky as during the
> > other three was after a regularly rainy summer. The other three have
> > been after a very warm and sunny summer.
> >
> > So, since any physical changes I can't otherwise explain ends up being
> > due to peri, I was wondering if sunshine or heat can affect hormones or
> > peri symptoms.
>
> Per the end of your first paragraph, maybe - pure guesswork here - due to a
> general change in temps & more low air pressure systems?
Thing is, it's each September, and these last four Septembers haven't
had the same weather.
> IOW, sort of akin to when some people (incl. me) feel cranky/irritable
> when it's reasonably warm, but very windy outside.
Whereas I love all sorts of windy weather, especially on clear days, and
especially crisp temperatures.
> (There's a name for
> this latter phenomenon, but I don't remember it. Starts with an "m", I
> think, w/ 2 or 3 syllables...)
Sorry, rings no bells.
Keera Ann Fox
> This summer hasn't been a summer in Scotland. Very little sunshine -
> heavy overcast, lots of rain. I fear we're heading into winter
> already low on Vit D.
We had that two years ago. It was awful. I felt awful. 6 months of
continuous rain and overcast skies will do that to a body.
FurPaw
> Cathy F. <cl...@adelphiadotdeedot.net> wrote:
>> (There's a name for
>> this latter phenomenon, but I don't remember it. Starts with an "m", I
>> think, w/ 2 or 3 syllables...)
>
> Sorry, rings no bells.
foehn, chinook, mistral, Santa Ana wind, scirocco - all strong winds with
reports of mood changes, sickness, psychosis associated with them ( but the
association isn't established as causal; it's more anecdotal afaik).
When I lived in Boulder, Co., I experienced several chinooks, one of which
gusted up to 150 mph.
FurPaw
--
Why do people who embrace Social Darwinism object to teaching the theory of
evolution?
To reply, unleash the dog.
Cathy F.
> Cathy F. <cl...@adelphiadotdeedot.net> wrote:
>
>> "Keera Ann Fox" <thinkbig.s...@online.no> wrote in message
>> news:1inv4u1.108d0331ynskamN%thinkbig.s...@online.no...
>> > I've been experiencing a weird one the last four Septembers: I get
>> > extremely cranky. The one September I was not as cranky as during the
>> > other three was after a regularly rainy summer. The other three have
>> > been after a very warm and sunny summer.
>> >
>> > So, since any physical changes I can't otherwise explain ends up being
>> > due to peri, I was wondering if sunshine or heat can affect hormones or
>> > peri symptoms.
>>
>> Per the end of your first paragraph, maybe - pure guesswork here - due to
>> a
>> general change in temps & more low air pressure systems?
>
> Thing is, it's each September, and these last four Septembers haven't
> had the same weather.
Okay. Well... I give up. ;-)
>
>> IOW, sort of akin to when some people (incl. me) feel cranky/irritable
>> when it's reasonably warm, but very windy outside.
>
> Whereas I love all sorts of windy weather, especially on clear days, and
> especially crisp temperatures.
Ohm, I didn't mean the two would go hand in hand, but that maybe it was a
phenomenon linked to a weather system like the one when people get irritable
when it's continuously windy.
Cathy
Cathy F.
"FurPaw" <furrea...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ENidnZ71QJS90UPV...@comcast.com...
> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
>> Cathy F. <cl...@adelphiadotdeedot.net> wrote:
>
>>> (There's a name for
>>> this latter phenomenon, but I don't remember it. Starts with an "m", I
>>> think, w/ 2 or 3 syllables...)
>>
>> Sorry, rings no bells.
>
> foehn, chinook, mistral, Santa Ana wind, scirocco - all strong winds with
> reports of mood changes, sickness, psychosis associated with them ( but
> the association isn't established as causal; it's more anecdotal afaik).
>
> When I lived in Boulder, Co., I experienced several chinooks, one of which
> gusted up to 150 mph.
>
> FurPaw
I was probably thinking of "mistral". I'd always assumed it was just me -
becoming all-of-a-sudden super-irritable on warm but persistently windy
days. And it took me a while to make the correlation. (Windy, cold days
don't have the same effect.) Until several years ago, when I found out that
it's also experienced by many others.
Cathy
FurPaw
> "FurPaw" <furrea...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:ENidnZ71QJS90UPV...@comcast.com...
>> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
>>> Cathy F. <cl...@adelphiadotdeedot.net> wrote:
>>>> (There's a name for
>>>> this latter phenomenon, but I don't remember it. Starts with an "m", I
>>>> think, w/ 2 or 3 syllables...)
>>> Sorry, rings no bells.
>> foehn, chinook, mistral, Santa Ana wind, scirocco - all strong winds with
>> reports of mood changes, sickness, psychosis associated with them ( but
>> the association isn't established as causal; it's more anecdotal afaik).
>>
>> When I lived in Boulder, Co., I experienced several chinooks, one of which
>> gusted up to 150 mph.
>>
>> FurPaw
>
> I was probably thinking of "mistral". I'd always assumed it was just me -
> becoming all-of-a-sudden super-irritable on warm but persistently windy
> days. And it took me a while to make the correlation. (Windy, cold days
> don't have the same effect.) Until several years ago, when I found out that
> it's also experienced by many others.
I've wondered about the irritability, since it's widely reported. I don't
know if it's some property related to the wind (ionization? dust?) or more
simply a response to a stimulus that's interpreted as a persistent irritant
(that *#%! wind is NOISY and I'm afraid my roof is going to blow off and it
just won't STOP!) The latter certainly fit with my response to Boulder's
chinooks, especially when the wind speed was really high, but I don't know
if there is more to it.
FurPaw
Keera Ann Fox
> "Keera Ann Fox" <thinkbig.s...@online.no> wrote in message
> news:1inxbgo.uikpf6y9pvkhN%thinkbig.s...@online.no...
> > Cathy F. <cl...@adelphiadotdeedot.net> wrote:
> >
> >> "Keera Ann Fox" <thinkbig.s...@online.no> wrote in message
> >> news:1inv4u1.108d0331ynskamN%thinkbig.s...@online.no...
> >> > I've been experiencing a weird one the last four Septembers: I get
> >> > extremely cranky. The one September I was not as cranky as during the
> >> > other three was after a regularly rainy summer. The other three have
> >> > been after a very warm and sunny summer.
> >> >
> >> > So, since any physical changes I can't otherwise explain ends up being
> >> > due to peri, I was wondering if sunshine or heat can affect hormones or
> >> > peri symptoms.
> >>
> >> Per the end of your first paragraph, maybe - pure guesswork here - due to
> >> a
> >> general change in temps & more low air pressure systems?
> >
> > Thing is, it's each September, and these last four Septembers haven't
> > had the same weather.
>
> Okay. Well... I give up. ;-)
:-)
> >> IOW, sort of akin to when some people (incl. me) feel cranky/irritable
> >> when it's reasonably warm, but very windy outside.
> >
> > Whereas I love all sorts of windy weather, especially on clear days, and
> > especially crisp temperatures.
>
> Ohm, I didn't mean the two would go hand in hand, but that maybe it was a
> phenomenon linked to a weather system like the one when people get irritable
> when it's continuously windy.
Or when it's very hot. Accident rates always go up during heatwaves. But
I'm not sharing my experience, as it were.
Peppermint Patootie
FurPaw <furrea...@gmail.com> wrote:
How's the humidity when warm winds blow? I know I generally feel more
alert and chipper when the humidity's down and the pressure is high. A
sharply cold day with deep blue skies and a brisk wind feels *great* to
my mind, while a hot wind on a summer day makes me long for relief.
Priscilla
Cathy F.
I get the definite feeling that it's an automatic, internal sort of deal -
not because of the latter/what annoying things the wind can do. Those are
two different sorts of irritability. The first one (the one I experience
during warmish/continually windy days) is a lot like when you (not you,
specifically) are irritable or feel angry because of hormonal baloney - not
because there's actually anything to be irritable or angry about. In fact,
the wind doesn't even have to be a super-strong one - just enough to be
quite noticeable & unrelenting.
Cathy
ellen
> "FurPaw" <furrealpaw...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:eKidnVmFOvkt5EPV...@comcast.com...
>
>
>
> > Cathy F. wrote:
> >>news:ENidnZ71QJS90UPV...@comcast.com...
> >>> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
cathy, i get this as well. problems with it most of my life, but way
worse as an adult. seems to be easing a bit these last few years.
perhaps another piece of the hormonal/neuro puzzle.
ellen
keera, while the last few years have been better, i had noticed having
horrible transitions at the end of summer for at least 4 or 5 years.
i recall that my mom had similar problems in her 40s. it was getting
to be that i was dreading august - end of sept. couldn't bear the aug
heat/humidity anymore & was just lousy & cranky as things changed.
fall has always been my favorite time of year as well, so i was bummed
out about struggling at that time. i kept looking for weather pattern
explanations, but everything externally was stable across time.
nothing stable inside me, though.
good luck,
ellen
Keera Ann Fox
> keera, while the last few years have been better, i had noticed having
> horrible transitions at the end of summer for at least 4 or 5 years.
> i recall that my mom had similar problems in her 40s. it was getting
> to be that i was dreading august - end of sept. couldn't bear the aug
> heat/humidity anymore & was just lousy & cranky as things changed.
> fall has always been my favorite time of year as well, so i was bummed
> out about struggling at that time. i kept looking for weather pattern
> explanations, but everything externally was stable across time.
>
> nothing stable inside me, though.
Do you think it may have been hormonally linked? I've been thinking
about this, and have gone back and looked at my cycle notes. I had what
are currently defined as normal periods, varying from 24 to 27 days up
until 2007, i.e. last year. Last summer I went 42 days without a period
and last fall I was cranky for much longer than just September (it was a
horrible fall, and there is no way I can blame the weather). I had
spotting during ovulation, and the next period after 30 days (note that
my cycle has been c. 23 days), and the period after that after only 13
days. Then I was fine/myself again, moodwise. (No changes in cycle for
2005 or 2006, though my mood wasn't good.)
For 2008 I see that my cycle is lengthening again, to c. 25 days, though
I still have 23 day cycles. My September period was "late" (whatever
that means during this phase of life), coming at 31 days, and light like
it's been for a couple of years now, but the August one (at 23 days) was
very heavy.
If there is any pattern at all (I really should graph this), a first
impression suggests that my cycles lengthen by a day or two during the
summer half of the year. That's when most of my 26-27 day cycles are,
vs. the 23-24 day cycles of winter.
> good luck,
Thanks. :-)
Michelle C
Change in barometric pressure? People susceptible to migraines often report
weather fronts as a migraine trigger. Perhaps this would affect others to a
lesser degree?
Michelle
dejablues
I've forgotten how old you are, Keera. I've had 24-25 day cycles for most
of this year, whereas last year they were 28 (normal) to 35 days long. I am
44. My mood has been generally better this year, but I'm not sure that
having more frequent periods is a fait tradeoff for that .
:-/ Hormones can suck!
Keera Ann Fox
> I've forgotten how old you are, Keera.
I'll be 48 in two months and two days. :-)
> I've had 24-25 day cycles for most of this year, whereas last year they
> were 28 (normal) to 35 days long. I am 44. My mood has been generally
> better this year, but I'm not sure that having more frequent periods is a
> fait tradeoff for that .
The 23-day periods have been quite light. I don't mind that at all. It's
saved me money. :-)
--
Keera in Norway
http://kafox.blogspot.com/
ellen
wrote:
keera, i do think that there is a hormonal component to all of this,
not that i fully understand it.
my cycles are all over the place - anywhere from 18 days to where i am
currently, 52 days. they have been erratic for some time, but picked
up in pace these last few years. no suggestions, just continued good
wishes.
Cathy F.
"ellen" <epdp...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:40b2951d-d9b8-4d10...@t41g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...<snipped>
> If there is any pattern at all (I really should graph this), a first
> impression suggests that my cycles lengthen by a day or two during the
> summer half of the year. That's when most of my 26-27 day cycles are,
> vs. the 23-24 day cycles of winter.
>
> > good luck,
>
> Thanks. :-)
>
> --
> Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for
> more.http://home.online.no/~kafox/
keera, i do think that there is a hormonal component to all of this,
not that i fully understand it.
my cycles are all over the place - anywhere from 18 days to where i am
currently, 52 days. they have been erratic for some time, but picked
up in pace these last few years.
`````````````````````````````````````
Cycle? What "cycle"? ;-)
Cathy
````````````````````````````````````
Keera Ann Fox
> "ellen" <epdp...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:40b2951d-d9b8-4d10...@t41g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> On Sep 28, 3:11 pm, thinkbig.shrinkto...@online.no (Keera Ann Fox)
> <snipped>
> > If there is any pattern at all (I really should graph this), a first
> > impression suggests that my cycles lengthen by a day or two during the
> > summer half of the year. That's when most of my 26-27 day cycles are,
> > vs. the 23-24 day cycles of winter.
> >
> > > good luck,
> >
> > Thanks. :-)
> >
>
> keera, i do think that there is a hormonal component to all of this,
> not that i fully understand it.
> my cycles are all over the place - anywhere from 18 days to where i am
> currently, 52 days. they have been erratic for some time, but picked
> up in pace these last few years.
I'm pretty sure that it's this-time-of-life stuff, hormones and age and
all.
> `````````````````````````````````````
> Cycle? What "cycle"? ;-)
LOL!
> Cathy
> ````````````````````````````````````
> no suggestions, just continued good
> wishes.
Thanks. :-)
I am currently looking for a light therapy lamp. The dark mornings have
hit me like a ton of bricks, so I've decided to try to counter the
winter blahs. I'm eating too much, I feel. The lamps are pricey, though,
so I don't want to make a mistake when buying one (and they're a bit
ugly, too), so I have a bit of research to do.