The reason we love the sound of rain

Whether you are one of those people who love rain or not, there is no doubt that the sound of falling drops tends to give you a sense of calm and peace. But why is this happening?

According to Marian Rizkallah, music therapist and director of North London Music Therapy, the answer has a lot to do with the rhythmic properties of rain. The truth is, despite its natural origins, the sound of rain is quite consistent and predictable – and that's what makes it so soothing.

"Just as music affects both the autonomic and limbic parts of our nervous system (which take care of our heart rate and emotions, respectively), so the steady, predictable sound of rain can help regulate our system's responses. nervous," explains Rizkalah.

"Our brains quickly learn to the rhythm of the rain," he adds. "The sound isn't too loud or comes with big auditory surprises, which makes it very brain-friendly."

Katerina Georgiou, a practicing psychotherapist and author of the forthcoming book Understanding and Coping with Stress, also believes that the way rainfall appeals to our senses can make it a calming and stress-relieving experience.

"The main thing is that the sound of raindrops affects our senses," explains Georgiou. "When we feel anxious about life or even panicked, we can feel trapped in our own mind and head. It is now widely known that techniques that connect us with our senses can take us out of this loop of our mind and put us back in touch with our body."

"The sound of raindrops helps us do this: the subtle sound on the windowsill activates our hearing, while if we're outside in the rain, the physical sensation awakens touch," she said.

So the bottom line is that there's a scientific explanation for many of us' penchant for the sound of rain – and while the end of summer may not be so welcome, the idea of ??rainy autumn days curled up in blankets on the sofa is not. sounds so uncomfortable…