The Top Ender Magazine October November 2020 Edition

Regular
Doctor's Notes
“Going troppo …”
Tropical Seasonal Affective Disorder
The days are hot and humid, the air conditioner is turned
on, the clouds look like they want to rain but won’t — it’s
the build-up. And with the build-up, comes the risk of going
troppo, or as it’s sometimes known, mango madness.
When I first moved up to Darwin at the end of a dry season,
people warned me of the impending build up and people going
troppo. As the heat and humidity increased, I did see quite a lot of
patients experiencing stress and burnout, and for some, worsening
of their mental health conditions. Initially I put this down to their
busy jobs, stressful lives, and sometimes drinking too much — but
to some degree they might have also been going a little bit troppo,
or the condition of tropical seasonal affective disorder.
So, what are its symptoms of going troppo?
Researchers at Charles Darwin University have found that the
tropical heat is linked with anxiety, stress, aggression and irritability.
People also tend to have less sleep, poorer appetites, and reduced
energy levels.
To support this, in the Top End, violent crimes such as homicide
and sexual assault tend to be higher during the humid months;
and hospitalisations for broken bones also increase by 40% at
Royal Darwin Hospital.
This has been found elsewhere in the world, such as in the
United States where it is the hotter cities that have higher violent
crime rates; and in Chicago the number of daily assaults during
the summer increases with temperature.
Some believe that the symptoms are similar to northern winters
where people become miserable and depressed with the cold
and lack of sun.
Historically, the term ‘troppo’ seems to have come from
Australian troops operating in the tropics during World War II, and
it might have even originated from Darwin. These days, the term
has taken on a broader meaning, and the School of Literature,
Languages and Linguistics at the Australian National University
define it as ‘to become mentally disturbed; to go crazy or wild’.
Irrespective of how the term is used, the heat and humidity
can affect our mental health, and it is something that we should
be aware of during these long, hot, humid days.
So, in the lead up to the Wet, if you’re becoming
increasing stressed, irritable or maybe even feeling down
— stop and think about how the heat and humidity may
be affecting you. Try to keep cool in airconditioned rooms
or in front of a fan, drink more water and avoid the temptation
to drink more alcohol, slow down and try not to
rush things, and make sure you are eating well and getting
enough sleep.
Let’s hope we get a decent wet season and a bit
of a relief soon. In the meantime, please take care of
yourselves and each other, and if you need a little bit
of extra help, please see your doctor.
Dr Andrew Flint
Medical Officer | HMAS Coonawarra
the term ‘troppo’
seems to have
come from
Australian troops
operating in the
tropics during
World War II
October/November 2020 29