Overcast weather

[BK]

  
So, as well as suffering from cptsd, I do believe I am a highly sensitive person (HSP). But I think these can overlap, so sometimes hard for me to tell what is what, and a bit of a chicken and egg case. A few years ago after giving up alcohol, I gained the awareness that overcast/grey weather made me feel so depressed, and that it had always been like this. As a result, I moved away from my home town, (and to get away from my family) to a place that was more sunny and had less over cast days- and it definitely helped my mood. I know that research has found that over cast days/lack of sunlight does affect people's mood (Seasonal adjustment disorder). And I read that in some Scandinavian countries, because they have long periods of winter darkness, they have special lighting to help increase people's mood. So, I do think that lack of light and its affect on mood does seem to be fairly common human experience, but to different extents. Anyway, I do think overcast weather does affect me because I am human, but I think it dramatically affects me because I am an HSP, but I do wonder if cptsd also impacts on how I experience overcast weather. Would love to hear your experience, knowledge, or views on this, and if overcast weather has the same dramatic impact on your mood?
 

[Kizzie]

I definitely do not like rainy/overcast days, it makes me feel gloomy whereas sun and bright blue sky make me happy. I do feel like this relates to my CPTSD to some extent but have nothing scientific to offer in that regard other than maybe SAD as you mentioned. Gloomy/rainy days seem to touch on that part of me I carry from childhood that feels 'emotionally overcast' (depressed) if that makes sense.

Oddly, I do not mind the dark days of winter, it's just rain/overcast that bothers me. I love the white snow against a blue sky in winter so I guess I am willing to put up with the longer dark days.

Interesting topic though   

[NarcKiddo]

I tend to feel much gloomier in grey, dark weather. I love sunny weather, which is a bit weird because I absolutely hate being out in direct sunlight. My favourite thing is to be somewhere shady but with a glorious sunny day.

[BK]

Hi Kizzie, Yes it is the same for me when you said "Gloomy/rainy days seem to touch on that part of me I carry from childhood that feels 'emotionally overcast' (depressed)", so yes it totally makes sense.
I actually don't mind rain, if it is not completely overcast. And I love the sound of rain at night when it hits my tin fence
Snow against a blue sky in winter also sounds lovely. I have only seen snow once, but it was overcast, but I look forward to one day experiencing snow against a clear blue sky.

Hey NarcKiddo, I am the same that I love sunny weather but hate being in direct sunlight. And I love being in a shady spot on a glorious sunny day too

[Marcine]

I enjoy experiencing all types of weather, "music of the storm" as John Muir calls it.

When living near the equator, there were not 4 seasons and I missed that. Basically every day was sunny and the same length of daylight year round (with a short rainy season).

So, overcast weather every day all year? Not sure how that would be. Darkness 24 hours? Yikes.

I love the variety and unpredictability of weather.

[BK]

Thanks for sharing Marcine

[Lina24]

Hi

I am the polar opposite. Bright, sunny days make me depressed, especially in the summer. However, in heavy rain I feel lighter. As soon as it starts I can feel myself smile and the weight of the world lifts from my shoulders. I'm told it's reverse SAD. I do notice that many people seem brighter when it's sunny, though.

[BK]

Hi Lina24, wow that's so interesting. I had never heard of reverse sad. Thanks for sharing