It's Not in Your Head, It's in the Forecast: Weather's Effects on Mental and Physical Health

Weather's Effect on Mental and Physical Health

If your mood drops with grey skies, your pain flares before a storm, or your energy disappears during heat waves, you are not imagining it. Weather influences more than what we wear. It affects how the brain and body regulate mood, sleep, pain, and stress. Changes in light, temperature, and atmospheric pressure can shape how manageable a day feels, particularly for people living with chronic pain, chronic illness, or mental health concerns.

Changes In Barometric Pressure Affect the Body

Barometric pressure, also known as air pressure, refers to the weight of air pressing down on the Earth’s surface. Although the body can generally tolerate both high and low pressure, rapid or significant changes can place stress on the nervous system.

Shifts in air pressure can change the pressure within joints, muscles, connective tissue, and blood vessels. These changes may contribute to pain flares, headaches, migraines, and increased muscle tension, especially for individuals with arthritis, fibromyalgia, or other chronic pain conditions. As tissues expand or contract, additional pressure may be placed on surrounding nerves, which can intensify pain signals.

Barometric pressure changes can also influence mental health. Fluctuations in air pressure may affect how the body processes neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, both of which play an important role in mood regulation. For some people, this can result in irritability, low mood, anxiety, or increased emotional sensitivity during weather shifts.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a subtype of mood disorder in which seasonal changes disrupt the brain and body’s regulatory systems. Although it is most commonly associated with winter, SAD can occur during any season, including spring and summer.

Seasonal shifts affect light exposure, which plays a key role in regulating biological rhythms and brain chemistry. Changes in daylight can impact circadian rhythms and neurotransmitter activity, leading to disruptions in mood, sleep, and energy.

• Serotonin: Reduced or dysregulated serotonin activity may contribute to low mood, irritability, and anxiety.

• Melatonin: Changes in daylight can disrupt sleep–wake cycles, leading to fatigue, low motivation, and cognitive fog.

• Circadian rhythm disruption: Seasonal shifts in light can interfere with the brain’s internal clock, affecting mood stability, sleep quality, and concentration.

These changes highlight that SAD involves both emotional and physical processes.

A Therapist’s Perspective

When weather affects mental or physical health, it reflects the body’s response to environmental stressors rather than a lack of strength or coping ability. Recognizing these patterns can help reduce self-blame and support a more compassionate and sustainable approach to care.