Depression due to humidity

Minh woke up in a damp room, feeling as if he was weighed down by a moldy blanket. Outside the window, the sky was gray without a ray of sunshine, the 32-year-old man sighed: "The damp days are coming again."

Two years ago, Minh, a university lecturer, was diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder at Bach Mai Hospital. He took medication for a year, his condition stabilized, and he stopped treatment.

For the past 3 weeks, the depression has returned, making Minh just want to curl up in the blanket, look up at the moldy ceiling and immerse himself in negative thoughts: "I'm useless", "No one needs me", "There's no reason to continue".

When the feeling of boredom, loss of interest, sleep disorders, and loss of appetite became severe, Minh called for support from Dr. Nguyen Viet Chung, Head of the Department of Mental Health, E Hospital. Dr. Chung diagnosed him with relapsed depression, prescribed medication, and provided him with psychological counseling.

Not only Minh, Thuc Anh, 30 years old, a young designer, also felt out of control with the humid weather. Her room was full of steam, the ceiling began to have damp patches, and an unpleasant smell permeated everything.

With every step she took, avoiding the water on the floor, she wondered: "Are germs growing? Could I get sick?" The hot cup of tea - her favorite drink - did not ease her anxiety. Her hands shook so much that she could barely hold the cup.

Seeing that her daughter was restless, sad, and even had thoughts of harming herself, Thuc Anh's mother convinced her to go to the Mental Health Department for a re-examination.

Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities, and an inability to carry out daily tasks for at least two weeks.

Depression is a major cause of suicide. It is triggered by internal and external factors, including weather.

Humidity - a common phenomenon in Northern Vietnam from February to April, increases the humidity in the air, causing water vapor to stick to every surface. Houses become damp, furniture becomes moldy, clothes take a long time to dry, and electronic devices are prone to damage. However, the effects of this phenomenon do not stop at the physical - it also has a profound impact on people's psychology.

Dr. Chung explains that high humidity makes the body work harder to regulate itself, increasing feelings of heat, fatigue, and lack of motivation.

Furthermore, the constant gloom of the weather, without sunlight, stimulates seasonal affective disorder (SAD), causing sadness, anxiety, or even pessimism.

Cortisol, the stress hormone, is also elevated, promoting feelings of anxiety and irritability. In particular, patients with mood disorders such as depression or anxiety are more susceptible to more severe symptom flare-ups.

According to research from the Center for Integrative Psych, prolonged periods of gloomy weather can cause a decrease in energy, loss of motivation, and worsen feelings of loneliness and insecurity, especially in people who already have mental health problems. Symptoms such as insomnia, irregular eating, sadness, and prolonged lethargy contribute to a weakened immune system, increasing the risk of both physical and mental illness.

Furthermore, a slight decrease in oxygen levels in the air due to high humidity can also negatively impact the brain, causing impaired cognitive function, loss of concentration and memory, especially in psychiatric patients or those who have experienced severe stress.

To cope, Dr. Chung recommends ways to control mood and physical health during the humid period such as drinking enough water, doing light exercise to improve blood circulation, using a dehumidifier or air conditioner in the house to reduce humidity.

For people with mental illness, maintaining a regular exercise routine, a balanced diet, and learning to accept the temporary discomforts of the weather will help reduce stress. In particular, any signs of more serious symptoms should be promptly treated by a specialist.

For people like Minh and Thuc Anh, understanding the connection between weather and mood helps them better prepare mentally for the upcoming wet spells. "I've learned to accept days like this as an inevitable part of life," Minh shared, adding that he goes out more, meets friends more, and takes vitamin D supplements to save himself from depression.

*Character names have been changed