Those rainy day feelings saturate the Bay State

BOSTON. For Julianne Mahoney the incessant rain this spring has meant no running outside, only a handful of walks with her  baby and no BBQs at her new house in Norwell.

Most people agree: enough is enough.

Psychologists say this amount of rain can cause widespread sour moods and even spur depression.

“It’s not just the rain that can bring down someone’s mood. It’s really how they react to it. They stay inside, eat more, exercise less and socialize less,” said Jennifer Taylor at McLean Hospital, a psychiatric facility in Belmont. “You can see the frustration and that can bring people down.”

Less exercise means less adrenaline and endorphins released, which are natural mood lifters, Taylor said.

“People are feeling more disconnected and isolated,” said Taylor. “There’s frustration, irritability, not sleeping, sitting around all day.”