Anyone have trouble with anxiety when it's hot?

fear not · Post by **fear not** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:43 am

Hello!Yes I get really panicky if it's hot!Two years ago when my anxiety got real bad I was at my mother in laws house for a cook out.It was about 90 degrees out and she didn't have her are on.In other words I felt trapped.No escape from the heat that I was feeling.Everyone else was handling it just fine but no not me!I was actually getting ice cubes and rubbing them all over me!People seriously thought that I was crazy!In my mind I was just trying to stay alive!Needless to say I let that spiral into the start of the worse panick attack ever!I still am fighting through all of that anxiety now.I have made a lot of progress now but when it comes to heat I don't do well.People would tell you that my house is freezing!HaHa!This is just something that we're going to have to work on.I think it's all about the focusing and dwelling we do in our minds.Of course when we do that we're going to feel things more intensely.God Bless!!

Faith_TX · Post by **Faith_TX** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:07 am

Yeah that makes sense! I had one of my worst panic attacks ever during a auto race. I got way overheated and had a glass of wine which made me worse, and I had myself convinced I had heat stroke and tried to get my husband to bring me to the hospital (something I don't normally do during panic) but he just got me cooled off and convinced me to take a nap. I survived. LOL

So, I try not to think of that day when I am too hot. Heck, there were so many people that were getting overheated at the races in Texas, that they changed the time of them. So, on one hand I need to remember that people do get hot! But on the other I need to find a way not to panic about it.

I'll have plenty of chances to practice this summer!

farmchick · Post by **farmchick** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:02 am

Faith, I'm in Texas too and suffer from the same fear. The anxiety of possible heat exhaustion has given me panic attacks in bed just thinking about it. I did experience heat exhaustion several years ago and have since been so fearful of the heat. But summer is summer and we have to deal with it. I like on a farm so I can't avoid it too much.

I've learned to get out in the early morning and evening, drink my water as I should (I probably even over do it) and get in the shade when periodically. We still have rest time at our house in the afternoons from sometime around 1 to 4ish. We stay inside, read, nap, get on the hammock and just chill.

I have to constantly tell myself to look at the reality--have I done everything I need to do to stay hydrated? This fear has taken a while to get over, but I'm finally rising from it. I like summer okay, but I'm so relieved when that first cool front comes our way.

Nothing wrong with reading in the shade! That's what my mom did and that's what I do when I'm not in the pool.

Peace to you on this precious present day!
Joan

Faith_TX · Post by **Faith_TX** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:52 am

Thanks Farmchick! I just now saw this post. That makes good sense. I found something on Yahoo Answers that helped me too thought I'd share it:

<quote>Most likely, heat is not directly causing your anxiety. If you get over-heated, its normal to feel dizzy, uncomfortable, and have a high pulse rate and increase in blood pressure. What probably separates you from the the crowd is that you may be reacting to the these physical changes as if they were something dangerous, while other people are able to just ignore them because they are a normal response to heat. If you can learn to accept these symptoms as nothing more than a normal response to heat, then the anxiety will go away.</quote>

ErinLT · Post by **ErinLT** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:15 am

If it's any comfort to anyone, I have suffered severe panic attacks for years based on every sensation, one being getting overheated. in january i went on a volunteer trip to peru (which in itself was an INCREDIBLE step for me, i cant even believe i got on a plane and went away from home at all) and while there, we worked in a hundred degree sun. i got heat exhaustion, and i didnt even know the symptoms, but for the first time in my life, I DIDNT PANIC! i laid down in some shade, i drank water, i rested. i didnt feel good for a few days, but my anxiety was actually in control for the most part. this is something that would never have happened before, i would have panicked so bad i probably would have tried to go to the hospital. if i could feel heat exhaustion while also being in a strange country away from home with little to no anxiety, there is hope for all of us! really, we can actually improve THAT MUCH!

Faith_TX · Post by **Faith_TX** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:29 am

That's awesome!! I'm working on getting THERE!

I had a little detour recently having to do with diet (I was told by a counselor that she felt all my symptoms were blood sugar related and she had me eating this super strict diet. . .which turned into almost a PHOBIA of foods!) I am eating more healthy, and I'm still staying away from a TON of sweets, but I am realizing that just because something causes uncomfortable feelings. . .such as getting too hot or having low blood sugar, doesn't mean I need to have a panic attack.

I'm certainly not there yet but I'm better than I was!!

I'm so proud of you for taking that trip.

I'm going to a marriage seminar this weekend with my hubby and staying in a hotel. For some reason I seem to almost always have bad anxiety when away from home. I still go do these things but with gritted teeth. I'm hoping soon I can do these things without a 2nd thought. It's all a process I suppose.

Charlie Brown · Post by **Charlie Brown** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:45 pm

Yes, yes. I get very panicky and anxious in warm/hot/humid weather. Starting tomorrow thru next Monday here in NYC it's supposed to be the 3 H's: hazy, hot, humid.

When I heard of this impending forecast, I got/am a little anxious. I have mild asthma and in the early years (2000-2005) the asthma always acted up in hot humid weather. Thank God the epsiodes have not been/are not trips to the ER but I still get anxious. My main asthma symptom is chest tightness...which also is a symptom of anxiety. So many times when I get this, I do not know if it's anxiety or asthma.

Except for work tomorrow and Saturday morning trip to the supermarket (before the heat sets in), yours truly will not be out this weekend.

NewOrleansMike · Post by **NewOrleansMike** » Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:10 pm

I am the same way with the heat. I hate it. I get these feelings of passing out. I passed out once when I was in church and I was in 7th grade. I'm 34 now and still worry about it constantly. I know it is silly, and I have gotten better. The feelings I get are very uncomfortable. Typical anxious feelings, with the thought of passing out running rampid through my head. I have found that once i quit drinking cokes and soft drinks, my hot flashes seemed to go away, and i seemed to tolerate the heat a little better.

MelMbrsl75 · Post by **MelMbrsl75** » Sat Jun 07, 2008 12:55 am

yes, but not too bad, I just catch my breath and know, hey, it's just some hot weather coming our way. It will be in the 90's here on Cape Cod today!

CherHere · Post by **CherHere** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 7:30 pm

I also do not handle the weather very well. The warmer it is the worse I am, and hot flashes are part of my attacks.
I now check the thermostat as soon as I feel like it is too hot then I freak out!!

i do agree that heat for sure adds to my psychosis