Houston Humidity & Anxiety
Coping with Heat Sensitivity and Anxiety in Houston
The summer in Houston is brutal, and it's something I stress about all year long. Despite the many positive attributes of living in Houston, the summer has a unique impact on my mental health. I consider myself an outdoor person and enjoy spending time in Colorado during the summer, taking advantage of the moderate climate and beautiful scenery. Every summer, after returning from Colorado, I feel recharged and refreshed, better able to tolerate the Houston humidity for a little longer.
As I get older and become more attuned to my emotions, I have become acutely aware that the heat and humidity in Houston cause my anxiety to spike. After only a few minutes outside during daylight hours, my body immediately starts to perspire, and I feel like my mind follows suit.
I quickly feel exhausted and start yawning, even if I am wide awake and well-caffeinated. Soon, I begin having generalized anxious thoughts and start to worry about worrying. While I feel like I have developed a vast arsenal of coping mechanisms for dealing with anxiety, I have yet to find an effective coping skill for heat sensitivity anxiety outside of immediate submersion in water, which clearly isn't always an option.
Heat Sensitivity and Mental Health
Heat sensitivity can significantly affect mental health, particularly for those already prone to anxiety. The body’s response to heat—sweating, increased heart rate, and discomfort—can mirror and exacerbate anxiety symptoms. The physical stress of heat can trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response, leading to heightened anxiety and even panic attacks. Heat triggers anxiety and causes an increase in cortisol, the stress hormone, which accelerates your anxiety symptoms. In most cases, stress hormones are higher during hot months than in cold ones. They affect the brain’s fear center, causing an increase in anxious thinking and general anxiety symptoms
Additionally, heat can cause dehydration, which affects cognitive function and mood. Dehydration can lead to irritability, confusion, and increased anxiety, making it even harder to manage mental health in hot weather.
Personal Coping Strategies
Outside of just staying indoors in the air conditioning, over the years, I've developed some strategies to give me the best shot at avoiding anxiety as a result of heat:
1. **Stay Hydrated**: I generally drink about 120 oz of water each day, along with at least one 16 oz electrolyte drink. My go-to brand is LMNT, which you can find [here](https://drinklmnt.com/).
2. **Dress Lightly**: I try to wear the most lightweight clothing possible, depending on where I am going and what I have to do. Footwear is particularly important since our heads and feet are primary sources of heat. Finding breathable socks is crucial, and I am still searching for the best solution. I would love to hear any recommendations.
3. **Use Cooling Products**: Fans, air conditioning, and more air conditioning. I use whatever I can to keep cool. I even have a bed air conditioner called Bedjet, which you can learn more about [here](http://bedjet.com/). I will discuss this more in a future blog post about sleep.
Seeking New Solutions
Despite these efforts, I often find that my anxiety still spikes during the hottest parts of the day. I'm constantly on the lookout for new strategies and products to cope with heat-induced anxiety. I would love to hear from others who have found effective ways to cope with heat sensitivity and anxiety.
Please share your tips, experiences, or insights. Together, we can find ways to stay cool and calm, even in the midst of a sweltering summer.
