BBC随身英语｜四季如何影响我们的情绪？
英音听力｜BBC & 经济学人等
How seasons affect our moods
We have four seasons in the UK. I like to think that spring gets its name from the flowers springing up to bloom. Next is my personal favourite – summer. I love the long, balmy evenings. Autumn, as some call fall, comes after. It's characterised by the orange and red leaves. Winter rolls around, and most of the vegetation is either decomposing or already dead, and the days are short and gloomy.
It's no wonder that, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, about three in every hundred people in the UK experience seasonal affective disorder, otherwise known as SAD. However, researchers at the Royal College of Psychiatrists have discovered that all seasons have an impact on our psychological functioning. It's also been found that hormones play an important role in seasonal mood changes as they fluctuate throughout the year.
An article published on Springer Nature Link observes positive emotional and physical changes to volunteers who were exposed to UVA from the Sun. Serotonin, known as 'the happy hormone', and dopamine, which is linked to motivation and pleasure, increases in months where there is a boost of sunlight. Similarly, lovers of spring recalibrate their energy and mood. After the cold, dark seasons of autumn and winter, it can feel like a biological reset.
Speaking of cold and dark, this is when those with naturally higher serotonin levels feel their mood regulating. They no longer feel overwhelmed by the high-level serotonin seasons of spring and summer. Reduced sunlight triggers higher melatonin, the sleepy hormone. There is the notion of preparing to slow down and get cosy, like that of animals in hibernation. It also rains more in autumn and winter. The Mind Company says that rain sounds reduce cortisol, the stress hormone, and helps you relax, focus and even sleep better.
We might like one season more than others. Our experience of seasons differs depending on location and environment. But one thing is for sure – our feelings change from season to season, and recognising these changes can help us act in ways that are in line with our mental, emotional and physical capabilities.
📝词汇表
spring up to bloom [bluːm] 竞相绽放，蓬勃盛开
balmy [ˈbɑːmi] adj. （天气）温和适的，宜人的
roll around （时间）再次到来，周而复始
vegetation [ˌvedʒɪˈteɪʃn] n. 植被，植物
decompose [ˌdiːkəmˈpəʊz] vt./vi. 分解，腐烂
gloomy [ˈɡluːmi] adj. 阴暗的，阴沉的；忧郁的
seasonal affective disorder(SAD) [ˈsiːzənl əˈfektɪv dɪsˈɔːdə(r)] 季节性情感障碍
hormone [ˈhɔːməʊn] n. 激素，荷尔蒙
fluctuate [ˈflʌktʃueɪt] vi. 波动，起伏
UVA 紫外线A（长波紫外线）
serotonin [ˌserəˈtəʊnɪn] n. 血清素（与情绪、睡眠相关的神经递质）
dopamine [ˈdəʊpəmiːn] n. 多巴胺（与动机、愉悦感相关的神经递质）
recalibrate [ˌriːˈkælɪbreɪt] vt. 重新校准，重新调整
biological reset [ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkl ˈriːset] 生物重置（身心状态的重新调整）
melatonin [ˌmeləˈtəʊnɪn] n. 褪黑素（调节睡眠的激素）
cosy [ˈkəʊzi] adj. 舒适的，温暖的，惬意的
hibernation [ˌhaɪbəˈneɪʃn] n. 冬眠，蛰伏
cortisol [ˈkɔːtɪsɒl] n. 皮质醇（压力激素）
be in line with 与…一致，符合
