How the Heat Impacts Our Mental Health

With summer around the corner, it’s common to experience an energetic shift of excitement and anticipation. Going to the beach, taking long walks, and going to outdoor events are all things to start looking forward to. However, it can be hard to think about how being outside can impact our mental health in a negative way when it feels so good to see the sun! We wanted to curate a short list of mental health outcomes from heat exposure as well as ways to manage regulation in the summer as a way to spread awareness and help you feel more prepared. Keep in mind, this list is not exhaustive, but is a solid foundation to start with. 

1. Sleep Disturbances

   1. The Impact: Since sleep is essential for maintaining our ability to regulate, anything that impacts sleep can also be a disrupter to our mental wellbeing. Since our bodies have a difficult time achieving restful sleep when we are warm, summer sleep dysregulation can lead to feelings of fatigue, stress, and even anxiety surrounding sleep. 

   2. The Resolution: Try to find consistency with sleep wherever you can. Make sure that you are trying to prioritize rest frequently as well as practicing boundaries. Take measures to try and curate a cool sleeping environment. Lighter blankets, a fan, AC, closing the blinds during the day, etc. are all effective ways to keep a room cool. 

2. Medication Management

   1. The Impact: Many psychiatric medications impact how our bodies regulate temperature and processes water. This may lead to an increase of heat intolerance and leave individuals prone to dehydration. This does not mean that you should stop taking medications in the summer months. 

   2. The Resolution: Talk to your prescriber first and foremost before making any changes to your medication. What you can start to do preemptively is start increasing your water and electrolyte intake to prepare ahead of time. It might also be helpful to think about what your needs are when going places. Do you need to pack additional liquids? Do you need an ice pack? How many hours can you spend outside? If we know what our needs are, scheduling and planning for time outdoors can become more streamlined. 

3. Higher Dysregulation

   1. The Impact: Usually the energy that is expended to keep our brains cool leaves us with a lesser ability to cope. Within the process of our brains keeping itself cool, serotonin and dopamine may be overstimulated which can lead to an increase in dysregulation and, in some cases, erratic moods.

   2. The Resolution: While this is frustrating, we want to try and extend empathy towards ourselves in order to limit the impacts of criticism and self-scrutiny. It can be helpful to take breaks from the sun. Seeking out air conditioned spaces and places that may be cooler can work wonders on our nervous system. It’s also important to remember that we need to check in on our basic needs more since our brains are working harder. 

      

      
      

While these three factors can greatly impact our mental health during the summer months, it’s helpful to take a proactive approach. What changes would you like to implement before we enter the mid-summer slump in order to practice self-care and emotional well-being while also enjoying the season?

The information on this website is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or psychological condition and is not a substitute for therapy. If you are experiencing an emergency please call/text 988 or go to your nearest emergency room.