We all know the saying: “when it rains, it pours”. Usually, it’s describing how problems- or sometimes good fortune- seem to arrive all at once. While it sounds like a simple idiom, there’s actually some scientific and psychological reasoning behind why it feels true.

Cognitively, humans are wired to detect patterns. When multiple stressful or fortunate events happen close together, our brains naturally link them, amplifying the sense of clustering. From a statistical perspective, clustering does occur in random distributions. Studies in probability and chaos theory show that even purely random data often contains streaks or clusters. But in terms of scientific proof that bad luck usually arrives at once? Nope, not a thing.

So while there’s no supernatural proof that life conspires to pile things on, there is psychological and mathematical evidence explaining why it feels that way. This week, we try and unpack our coping mechanisms for periods of ‘heavy rain’ - and the bad habits we need to kick.

CHAPTERS: 

01:09 – On the Couch: When It Rains, It Pours

09:32 – Brains love patterns. Hello, fake “clusters”

16:31 – Best tip: You don’t have to reply yet

18:55 – Glass balls vs rubber balls

24:09 – Survival mode makes joy feel risky

32:04 – Scoop of the Week: Skims hairy thong

33:52 – Are we being trolled or is this fashion? Discuss

37:36 – Internet Genius: Habit stacking

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You can find Maggie online at @maggiekellywriter and Tully over on @tee_smyth.

New episodes dropping every Thursday. #SelfHelpedPod