Over the weekend, I heard a medical reporter on a local news show talking about the effects of changing to Daylight Savings Time on the body. He suggested that one not drink alcohol or make significant decisions this week as one’s mind and body were in a state of desynchronosis. Huh, what’s that you ask?
Well, there have been a number of studies that look at the possible effects of changing times and timezones on the body. Several studies have looked at the number of fatal and alcohol-related crashes in the days following a timechange. One study looked at stock market crashes the day after a time change. Could it be that we are not functioning up to speed but don’t know it? What is the truth?
Significant time changes (flying across country) does have an impact on reaction times. We know that overly tired individuals react similarly to those impaired with alcohol and yet they don’t feel it. So, if you were overly tired AND drank before driving, it could create serious problems. However, given that there are only 2 changes each year, it is hard to really prove that DST changes causes these problems. Too many anomalies.
Whether or not it is desynchronosis or not, I’m having a hard time getting up in the pitch dark. Changes of any kind can throw us a bit and make us more sensitive to emotional lethargy.
At least we have some good light in the afternoon.
Musings on Faith and Psychology 