Is It You Or Is It Hot In Here? How the Heat Can Affect Your Mental Health and Tips to Cope

When the temperatures soar, it’s not just our bodies that feel the heat. Our mental well-being can also take a hit during heat waves. Let’s explore how extreme heat affects mental health and what you can do to cope, both physically and mentally.

Heat waves can be hard on both our bodies and minds. Research shows that more people visit the emergency room for mental health issues during extreme heat. Problems like substance abuse, anxiety, mood disorders, and schizophrenia distress become more common. People might also show more aggression, engage in domestic violence, and use substances more. Our thinking skills, like memory, attention, and reaction time, can also get worse.

One of the biggest problems caused by heat is trouble sleeping. When our sleep is disrupted, mental health issues can get worse, leading to more irritability and stress. This can cause tempers to flare, road rage, and general frustration. It’s important to be kind to ourselves and others during these times, avoiding impulsive reactions.

Certain mental health medications can make people more vulnerable to heat-related problems. For example, diuretics can cause dehydration and confusion. Some mental health medications affect how we regulate heat and perceive temperature, leading people to wear heavy clothing even in extreme heat. Lithium, used for bipolar disorder, can become concentrated in the body when dehydrated, leading to serious health risks like heart arrhythmias, coma, seizures, or even death.

A study published in The Lancet highlighted the connection between outdoor temperatures and mental health. There’s a link between heat and incidents like suicides, hospital visits for mental illnesses, and community-wide mental health problems. Mild weather and comfortable temperatures with sunshine can improve mental well-being. The study also pointed out that how hot it feels compared to the local average plays a crucial role in affecting mental health, more so than the actual temperature.

People with existing mental health conditions are especially vulnerable during heat waves. Those with dementia face an increased risk of hospitalization and death when temperatures rise. Some antidepressants and antipsychotics impair the body’s ability to regulate temperature, making things worse. Additionally, people with mental illnesses often face socioeconomic challenges, like poverty and substance use disorders, making it harder to cope with extreme heat.

Stay Hydrated and Cool: Drink plenty of water. Use air conditioning if available, or seek out public places like malls and libraries to cool off.

Community Support: Check on vulnerable friends, family members, or neighbors during heat waves. Sometimes a simple check-in can make a big difference.

Seek Help: If coping becomes too difficult, don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance. Emergency rooms, therapists, and counselors are available to provide support.

Remember, your mental health is just as important as your physical health, especially during extreme weather conditions. Taking steps to stay cool and hydrated, supporting those around you, and seeking help when needed can make a big difference in managing the mental toll of heat waves. Stay safe and take care of yourself, both physically and mentally.