A full moon some unexpected shifts in how you’re feeling and how you discount with things and this week’s full moon this week – also known as the Super Beaver Moon – is no different
Research suggests that the lunar cycle can impact a variety of hormonal systems, and there might be some truth to the idea that full moons can cause emotional chaos, miscommunication and arguments.
Be wary, as this week’s Super Beaver Moon, taking place on the 5th of November, could actually cause some relationship trouble.
Hormonal health expert Mike Kocsis at Balance My Hormones reveals how the full moon could lead to problems in your love life, and how to full moon-proof your relationship.
The most obvious impact of the full moon is sleep disruption, even if you don’t notice it. Even if the bright light of the full moon doesn’t wake you up, it can cause a chain reaction throughout your body and your hormones; cortisol rises, serotonin becomes dysregulated, and oxytocin can decrease – and this can lead to problems.
Levels of melatonin, the sleep hormone, can dip during a full moon, which makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Serotonin is highly responsive to light exposure – which is why serotonin levels tend to decrease in winter, when there is less sun, contributing to things like seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Being deprived of fully restful sleep makes you feel more emotionally reactive, more prone to conflict, and less empathetic, so it can cause trouble in relationships.
Many people report heightened emotional sensitivity when there is a full moon; studies have even shown that cortisol, the stress hormone, can reach higher levels at this time. Cortisol peaks in the early morning to help you wake up and lowers throughout the day, but a disruption in the sleep-wake cycle caused by the brightness of the full moon can cause in imbalance in cortisol levels, which can affect metabolism, immune function, and even lead to emotional instability.
Even if only one person in the relationship is experiencing heightened cortisol due to the full moon, it can result in tension, arguments, and emotional shutdown.
Serotonin oversees your mood, sleep, and emotional balance; it helps you feel steady, calm, and satisfied, so levels are high in happy and healthy relationships. But during a full moon, poor sleep can cause serotonin levels to dip, and this can make you feel more sensitive and tearful, more easily overwhelmed by disagreements and conflict, and less capable of thinking rationally during moments of high emotion.
Oxytocin is the emotional glue that keeps couples connected, and without it, you can begin to feel more like strangers; it is released in moments of connection and trust, and plays an important role in social bonding, empathy, and intimacy. But in times of stress, like when cortisol is high, and sleep is poor, the production of oxytocin can decrease.
This can make you feel less connected to your partner and make you withdraw emotionally – and this can trigger resentment and insecurity in the relationship, especially if the connection is already strained.
This means a full moon could cause subtle hormonal shifts and biological changes that can exacerbate tension, amplify negative emotions, and lower your ability to tolerate each other – so if you’re fighting with your partner this week, maybe the moon is to blame.
However, you can moon-proof your relationships by engaging in open communication, maintaining a relaxing bedtime routine to try and get a good night’s sleep, manage your stress and reframe and reconnect in your relationship.
Think about what emotions come up, and what they tell you about yourself, each other, and your relationship. If you’ve been feeling ‘off’ in your relationship, use this time to work out why, and what you should do next.
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