Full moon

Far more common that people will admit , it does affect many and is a recognised fact with mental health workers

Never thought of it. Tired a lot though!

Well it certainly used to affect my previous cat, who used to fly around like something possessed It took me a while to work out the cause!

It has affected DH's mood as long as I've known him. To say he's grumpy is an understatement! The children and I used to dread full moons. Now I go with the flow because there's a lightening of his mood once the full moon has passed. I would love to know the reason for this.

I think there is evidence that the moon affects childbirth.

It is well known that the moon pulls the tides. As the effect is so profound on such vast bodies of water, then why wouldn't little beings like ourselves, (and cats,) react to it too?

So much of out bodies is water , the science and medical experts here will give the details, but this is why we like the tides are affected by the moon

Yes the moon does affect tides but at all times, not just at full moon.

Is there any credible evidence, not anecdotal, that shows the full moon affects mental health?

Doubt those in the mental health sector rely on anecdotal chat

Annie I'm a nurse and we spout a lot of old superstitions - MH nurses are even worse

I'd like to read the evidence.

In the mid 60s we were in Singapore and I had a job which involved visiting a psychiatric hospital in Johore Bahru. The staff there used to say that at full moon many of the patients went beserk - those were the days before really effective drug treatment.
I seem to remember reading that many animals have an oestrous cycle linked to the full moon. Something to do with the extra light having an effect on some part of the brain.
Women's periods are sometimes called monthlies.

Ditto

Of course every third full moon I do turn into a frog!?

www.athenainstitute.com/lunarmpl.html

An ex partner, not an easy man anyway, used to lose his temper badly every so often. I kept a diary and after a while I realised that this always happened at the time of the full moon. I have read, more than once, that psychiatrists say there is definitely a connection. The link between the moon, tides and the composition of our bodies makes sense to me, from my experience.

I am not sure about the mental health bit, but I know that whenever there is a full moon due, I will have restless/sleepless nights for a few days. I discovered this some time ago, when this started to happen, and after a while, because I was getting up in the night to make a drink, realised the moon was very bright, so began to take note. Happens quite regularly, as you would expect!

Well, that is where the word 'lunatic' came from.

Look at the Birmingham moon murders

I can tell when it's full moon from people's driving!

(and grammatical errors!)

I love the full moon and find it calming, not sure what that says about me? We live near the sea and I just love to watch the moonlight dancing on the waves, it's beautiful.

Like you Nonna I love the moon, whatever quarter it is in, there is something very soothing about it, specially on a frosty night.

DD worKs in mental health and would whole heartedly agree with Anniebach she and her colleagues dread a full moon.

Juliette may I ask what's your daughter's role in MH - is she a psychiatrist?

Before we opened our drop in centre for people with mental health problems we had to attend a course given by the mental health team, nurses, councillors, psychiatrists , it was a psychiatrist who spoke of the full moon effect