Stormy Weather Ahead: Atmospheric Changes Can Contribute to Anxiety | Praise Podcast

In this episode, I'll share the science behind why barometric changes can trigger the anxiety response. Tune in!

https://momo634.com/p/stormy-weather-anxiety

#bible #anxiety #depression #stress #mentalhealth #ocd #neurodiverse #neurodivergence #Christianity #faith #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #science #meteoropathy #weather

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00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 In this episode,

00:00:02 --> 00:00:05 I'll share the science behind why barometric changes can

00:00:05 --> 00:00:07 trigger the anxiety

00:00:07 --> 00:00:07 response.

00:00:08 --> 00:00:08 Tune in.

00:00:12 --> 00:00:12 Hello,

00:00:12 --> 00:00:14 and welcome to MOMO 634,

00:00:14 --> 00:00:20 the daily podcast chock-full of faith-filled inspiration and motivation.

00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 Please like, share, and subscribe.

00:00:24 --> 00:00:28 MOMO 634, motivational moments just for today.

00:00:43 --> 00:00:44 In a recent episode,

00:00:45 --> 00:00:49 we explored atmospheric changes on overall mood experienced by

00:00:49 --> 00:00:50 some people.

00:00:51 --> 00:00:57 I mentioned that barometric changes can particularly impact the fight,

00:00:57 --> 00:00:57 flight,

00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 or freeze mechanism in a subset of the population,

00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 and that's our focus for this episode.

00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 When there are changes in barometric pressure,

00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 some people experience exacerbated stress levels,

00:01:12 --> 00:01:13 unease,

00:01:13 --> 00:01:15 or even panic or panic-like symptoms.

00:01:16 --> 00:01:20 A study out of South Korea even correlated these pressure

00:01:20 --> 00:01:21 changes with increased

00:01:21 --> 00:01:24 emergency room visits for panic attack symptoms.

00:01:26 --> 00:01:30 Experts believe this causal link with anxiety and atmospheric

00:01:30 --> 00:01:31 shifts lies with the

00:01:31 --> 00:01:35 fact that they affect the nervous system and brain chemistry.

00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 Here are some of the major takeaways found.

00:01:40 --> 00:01:41 Increased stress response.

00:01:42 --> 00:01:47 Sudden drops in pressure can trigger the body's fight or flight response,

00:01:47 --> 00:01:51 which is a major contributor to feelings of anxiety.

00:01:52 --> 00:01:53 Headaches and fatigue.

00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 As mentioned in that episode on weather changes and their

00:01:57 --> 00:01:58 effect on the body,

00:01:58 --> 00:02:02 I shared that those drops also trigger migraines for me.

00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 I have an app on my phone and have been tracking barometric

00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 pressure changes for a

00:02:08 --> 00:02:09 number of years now.

00:02:10 --> 00:02:11 In fact,

00:02:11 --> 00:02:15 many report headaches or sluggishness before storms,

00:02:15 --> 00:02:20 which in turn can contribute to irritability and emotional distress.

00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 sleep disturbances and disruptions.

00:02:24 --> 00:02:28 In that same episode on weather and mood,

00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 and the one on somatic memories,

00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 I mentioned I'd been having some sleep issues over the last

00:02:34 --> 00:02:35 couple of weeks,

00:02:36 --> 00:02:41 the same period of time as these powerful storm fronts came through.

00:02:42 --> 00:02:43 Apparently,

00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 it's not uncommon for people to struggle with sleep when the

00:02:46 --> 00:02:47 pressure changes.

00:02:48 --> 00:02:48 And,

00:02:48 --> 00:02:49 of course,

00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 if you've listened to this podcast for long,

00:02:52 --> 00:02:56 you know that sleep deprivation is a key factor in a number of

00:02:56 --> 00:02:57 mood and mental

00:02:57 --> 00:02:58 health conditions,

00:02:59 --> 00:03:03 one of which is heightened anxiety after such a sleep disturbance.

00:03:04 --> 00:03:08 Studies suggest that people with existing anxiety disorders or

00:03:08 --> 00:03:09 meteoropathy,

00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 the new word we learned in that episode on weather and mood

00:03:13 --> 00:03:14 that simply means

00:03:14 --> 00:03:15 weather sensitivity,

00:03:16 --> 00:03:20 may be more prone to these anxiety-related effects.

00:03:22 --> 00:03:26 I'm linking all these sources and the study in addition to the

00:03:26 --> 00:03:27 recent episode on

00:03:27 --> 00:03:33 weather and mood below this one at momo634.com.

00:03:33 --> 00:03:37 In a number of episodes, I've mentioned having a rainy day toolkit.

00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 Rainy day as in a bad day or off day.

00:03:42 --> 00:03:47 having it at the ready, and this goes for literal rainy days too.

00:03:47 --> 00:03:51 I'm going to be updating these toolkit items into a spreadsheet

00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 similar to our

00:03:52 --> 00:03:57 searchable episode guide so that they're all in one easy to find place.

00:03:58 --> 00:03:59 Meanwhile,

00:03:59 --> 00:04:03 I'll link the grounding and belly breathing episodes as they

00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 also help with anxiety.

00:04:06 --> 00:04:10 Reread those verses shared in our last episode on weather and

00:04:10 --> 00:04:11 mood from Mark

00:04:11 --> 00:04:13 chapter 4,

00:04:13 --> 00:04:15 verses 35 and following.

00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 Jesus calmed a physical storm.

00:04:18 --> 00:04:21 He can calm the storm of our fears also.

00:04:23 --> 00:04:28 If you experience weather-related issues with mood, chime in below.

00:04:31 --> 00:04:37 Thanks for listening to Momo 634, motivational moments just for today.

00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 Please subscribe,

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