Sun storm!
June 11, 2008 – 2:13 am
A few weeks ago, I read this article, which says that scientists think that sun storms may be linked to significant increases in depression and suicide.
These scientists theorize that humans, electromagnetic creatures that we are, are highly sensitive to stuff happening on the sun.
“The most plausible explanation for the association between geomagnetic activity and depression and suicide is that geomagnetic storms can desynchronise circadian rhythms and melatonin production,” says Kelly Posner, a psychiatrist at Columbia University in the US.
I don’t know about you, but I read that and all I get is Blah blah blah geomagnetic activity blah blah desyncronise HUH?!
So anyway I told my mom about the article, and hippy moon child that she is, she jumped right on the bandwagon. Of course the sun is impacting our moods!
Now, any time either of us is even the slightest bit sad, the other shouts out “SUN STORM!” And we immediately begin to giggle like 2nd graders.
The problem is, I find this so amusing that I’ve started shouting out “SUN STORM!” to people who are unloading their burdens to me who aren’t in on our little game. I’m sure they just think I’m making fun of them.
What was my point here?
Oh, right.
This week I think there must be a HUGE, ENORMOUS sun storm of epic proportions. Possibly a typhoon or hurricane, even.
My mood is dour and dark and I feel decidedly gloomy.
Even shouting out “SUN STORM!” at random intervals doesn’t cheer me up. (ok, so maybe it cheers me up just a little.)
I think, “I really should put up a blog post,” and immediately there’s that little voice in my head saying, “why bother? Blogging is dumb.”
And then I’m thinking, “Really? IS IT dumb?” and while I’m questioning that, the voice comes back and says, “And also you’re dumb too.”
And I think, “AM I? I think I might be.”
And I cycle down into a cold and moldy pit of despair.
Will I ever climb out?
Or will I rot here, wallowing in self-pity?
Only the sun can tell.
And from my view in gloomy old Seattle, I’m starting to wonder if it’s even up there.
***
Don’t forget to subscribe to email updates or the RSS feed!
©2008 Absolutely Bananas. All Rights Reserved.
Related Posts
Mother. Coffee drinker. Information seeker. Skeptic. Creative. Dreamer. Schemer. Absolutely Bananas.
By Yvie on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
Hi there, I hope things’ll go well with you. I mean, sometimes it gets surly and sad–we just don’t know how to get out.
While it says that the sun storm hightens depression, I would say I have a different way of putting it. Without the energy of the sun we’d go nuts.
[Reply to this comment]
By World's Greatest Mommy on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
I’m there, sister, and I get to live in the sun. The hot, stinky, sweating Texas sun, and I’ve still got the blahs.
But blogging is not dumb, and neither are you, and that voice in your head is just jealous that you’re so freakin’ cool, and it is not.
Don’t listen, ’cause let me tell you, if you stop putting up posts, my mood is going straight down the toilet.
(And it’s really dirty in there.)
[Reply to this comment]
By Mylhibug on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
SUN STORM!!!
Feel better? I hope so, maybe you should go to the beach and light a bonfire, before they go away forever…
Hope you start to feel better soon.
[Reply to this comment]
By crunchy carpets on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
I kid you not..I recall dh telling me about said event happening in near future and didn’t pay too much attention..but hmmmmmm
and yeah what sun???
[Reply to this comment]
By All Adither on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
Oh yeah, I totally hear you. I’ve been experiencing doldrums lately. Esp. in reference to my stoopid blog. I don’t think it’s a sun storm, I think it’s the freaking low, touching-the-ground clouds doing it to you.
[Reply to this comment]
By Aimee Greeblemonkey on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
My therapist has told me that she gets a HUGE influx of emergency calls after a solar flare. I have taken a habit of calling it that whenever more than one person in my vicinity is feeling low. “Dude, there must be major solar flares going down right now.”
I actually wouldn’t doubt it. The change in the light/time (i.e. days getting longer or shorter) have a major effect on people with sleep disorders like myself and also people who are bipolar, for some reason.
Either way, hugs.
[Reply to this comment]
By Rachael on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
I’m in Washington too. I don’t think it was sun flares… I think it was the fact that yesterday it was monsooning and forty something freaking degrees. IN JUNE! What the heck? NOT uplifting.
[Reply to this comment]
By Alyssa on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
You have got me wondering… I have been pretty down in the dumps lately too. SUN STORM!!
There, now I feel better.
[Reply to this comment]
By Nora Bee on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
it is! The sun is up there! July will be here like a shot, and it HAS to be sunny then…
[Reply to this comment]
By Charming Driver on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
Dude, I am in Vancouver and all I can say is: I fell ya, totally.
[Reply to this comment]
By Charming Driver on Jun 10, 2008 | Reply
Or rather that I FEEL ya, totally.
See, living in (rainy, cold, exhaustingly gloomy) Vancouver (WA) makes me sad AND illiterate.
[Reply to this comment]
By jennyonthespot on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
That’s the stinkin’ problem - we can’t even tell if there’s a stinkin’ sun that’s stormin’! Alright already - we need warmth…
Oooh, I know - it’s the mold. With all of the NOT SUN, Northwest old is taking over our souls.
[Reply to this comment]
By Z on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
SUN STORM!!!
Hope the storm clears up soon… I know mine did with the disappearance of the heat this morning - perhaps it’s making its way to you (the heat, that is)?
[Reply to this comment]
By Sunshine on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
THANK YOU! You’ve finally figured it out. Although, we’ve had so much damn rain, I don’t the sun is up there anymore either.
[Reply to this comment]
By KD-Pie on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
Here in Squirrelly-ville the sun has also dissappeared. I think all of us NWerners are in need of a SUN STORM! Hang in there!
[Reply to this comment]
By Scout's Honor on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
And here I thought it was my PMS, Seasonal Affective Dosorder, and my farking insensitive husband.
Hmm? (Shoulder shrug) Sunstorm?
Maybe I shouldn’t have written all those things on my blog yesterday about ripping my husband’s head off like a Preying Mantis does to her mate on my blog yesterday?
I just needed some sun block for the non-existant sun. Damn!
Well, I hear we might get 80’s on Fridays. I am sure my husband’s preying errr praying for 80s. Hehehe
[Reply to this comment]
By Amy on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
You randomly yell “Sun Storm” at people? That ROCKS!
Sometimes I think blogging is stupid. But I’m OK with that.
Cheer up sugar!! (hear my southern drawl?) The sun’ll come out…tomorrow.
I’m rambling…sorry.
[Reply to this comment]
By Storm on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
I can totally relate! Ugh!
I do think mother nature and all the havoc she causes has an impact on our lives and that its not totally known how connected it is.
I hate summer break and its only been 5 days.
Prayers being said for you and I sincerely hope you can climb out of your moldy hole into the bright sunshine.
[Reply to this comment]
By Pixie on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
This explains why it’s still raining here! In June! And driving me crazy!!!!!
[Reply to this comment]
By Sara on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
I think the real problem is that we can’t see the damn SUN STORM! behind all the clouds and rain and FORTY SEVEN DEGREE temperatures. The weather alone is enough to make anyone blue.
[Reply to this comment]
By Haddockteacher on Jun 11, 2008 | Reply
I can TOTALLY relate to the current sun storm that is occuring… Around here when things are blah someone yells “beaver piss” (gross I know and when you think about it… nothing about beaver urine (the animal not the “ugly” thing) is funny… but it WILL make you laugh… random words eh?
Chin up Sunshine!
[Reply to this comment]
By princessofsomething on Jun 12, 2008 | Reply
hang in there. :)
[Reply to this comment]