The Science of Spring Fever

LESSON #2:

The world becomes a better place. Whether or not this is true, this is what you will believe. Blame it on your body naturally producing more feel-good hormones in the sunlight, also known as serotonin. Increased serotonin correlates to feelings of joy, enthusiasm, frivolity and all around yay-the-world-is-so-great!-ness.

Not only do you produce more happy hormones, you also produce less sleep hormones. As your eyes adjust to more natural light, the tiny region of the brain considered the human biological clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), produces less melatonin – the sleep hormone. This causes a lift in mood and energy, a reduced desire to sleep, an increase in libido (of course we’ll address that specific symptom later) and a need to eat less. Released from the chemical messages that make us withdraw in winter, the body feels energized, ready to hunt for food and to give birth.

With all this increase in energy and oxygenated blood rushing through your body, you do what energetic people do – play more. And as temperatures rise, the great outdoors beckon for the first time in months with long walks, runs, bike rides and other outdoor activities. As you’re more active you generate endorphins, another feels-so-so-good hormone that works like opium in the brain.

Still with me? So far we have increase in sunlight = more energy + better mood + higher sex drive + less need for sleep + more activity = all around happy, happy, happy feelings. Sounds pretty awful right?