Years ago in one of my previous jobs I used to work with people in the legal system, giving advice and assistance in the areas of crime and family law. It was a yucky business, dealing with a contstant stream of people and families in strife.

Along with my work colleagues we often used a term called “full moon fever”, which referred to the noticeable increase in cases whenever there was a full moon. People in other industries and occupations such as nurses, doctors, police, fireman, etc all said the same thing. All of us knew that the ancient myths about “lunacy” were true, even though there was no scientific evidence for it.

No evidence that was, until now. The Australian Medical Assocation recently published a report on a study in Newcastle that showed that “violent and acute behavioural disturbances are more common during the full moon…”.

Basically the report showed that during a full moon phase, there were double the amount of people presenting to the emergency department who needed sedation and/or physical restraint.

One of the clinical nurses at the hospital where the study was conducted said “Our findings support the premise that individuals with violent and acute behavioural disturbance are more likely to present to the emergency department during the phases of the full moon”.

So there you have it. All those people who work in the human services industry and have aways known that this is true – finally a study that shows the difference.

But what still isn’t really known is, why? Is it behavioural? Biological? After all, our brain is 75% water, and if the full moon can affect tides on earth, why not our brains? Or is there a spiritual cause? I know there’s some disturbing secret groups out there that practice their stuff around every full moon.

Whatever the answer, it’s another interesting variable in this journey of life.

Have you ever noticed a change around the full moon? Let me know your experience.