Anxious About the Heat? Here’s How to Manage It

Climate Crisis: “Heatwave anxiety” describes the dread, irritability, or sense of being trapped that can set in during periods of extreme heat. High temperatures can disrupt sleep, increase dehydration, and raise stress hormones like cortisol, all of which make it harder to regulate emotions. Psychologists say this can leave people feeling more anxious, short-tempered, or mentally drained, especially if they already live with anxiety or depression. There are, luckily, some things you can do to manage heatwave anxiety.

How to Do It: Managing heatwave anxiety is two-fold. There are physical steps you can take to keep your body and home as cool as possible. But if you’re feeling “incredibly helpless,” like many who are battling excessive warmth without AC, consider connecting with others about it. As one doctor told the BBC, there’s “a huge perception gap between how concerned people are about climate change, and how much they think other people care.” Taking action, like signing climate petitions or learning more about climate change in your area, can help you channel your energy into something positive.

The Benefits: Both physically managing the heat and removing isolation from the equation can help keep you comfortable and keep anxiety from turning into a full-blown stress spiral.