Is it normal to feel anxious about hotter summers?

[Cookserella]

Is it normal to struggle with climate anxiety?

We live in the south east and summers have definitely got hotter over the last 10 years. I’m looking at the forecast for this coming week with dread.

Does anyone else suffer from anxiety around this sort of weather?

I get really anxious about any upcoming spells of heat and find myself checking the weather obsessively.

I’m worried what life will be like for my kids in 20 years time (perhaps they’ll all move to Scotland!).

How can I rationalise this? Am I going totally mad?

The 42 degrees of July 2022 was pretty horrific, the out of control fires were scary and people lost their homes.

I wouldn't say I have anxiety about it, but it's definitely a worry that temperatures could climb to those levels more regularly and for longer periods.

I have literally just spent the last few days getting prepared and decided to buy 2 hot water bottles to put in the freezer, a blackout liner for my bedroom curtain, and I've just ordered a portable room cooler after reading this thread. I've been put 4 big bottles of tap water in the fridge to cool down and made lot's of ice cubes.

I've spent about £100 on getting ready for the heat which I know many people wouldn't be able to do. I really feel for those in flats in cities with large windows and no shade at all. It's beginning to feel inhumane to put people in those conditions without air con.

I'm now thinking about planning for future years by saving up for window shutters for the outside of the front of my house.

I think the more prepared we can be - the less of a worry it is.

We sound very similar in approach. I think it's wise advise to take things one day at a time and try not to think too far ahead.

I also used to find things easier - perhaps 10 years ago I was able to enjoy a hot evening drinking a cold glass of wine in a lovely park somewhere. Now I spend most of it battling to get my kids to sleep and then tidying my bombsite of a kitchen.

@Cookserella I think it is entirely normal to be concerned about climate change, the effect it will have on the British Isles & the rest of the planet, and on our descendants. But climate change is a long term thing, and is not the same as changes in the weather from week to week.

Feeling such anxiety at the prospect of hot sunny weather over the next few days is something you need to try and deal with.

Yes I remember thinking in July 2022 that I felt like I was preparing for a big storm, battening down the hatches etc. Same feeling of preparing for the worst.

I flipping love Scotland. It's not exactly known for its warm summers which may be to its great advantage in years to come!

I do, too! I don't deal well with the heat, which seems to be a trigger for my migraines. I work outside, drink a lot, wear SPF, wear a hat and sunglasses. I'm also praying to get enough money together to move to a Scottish island, where temperatures are usually half of what they are here in Wales!

I absolutely hate the extreme heat and yes, am worried about my children in school. Keeping them off will be something I consider. I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but I really worry about the future. Climate change is definitely starting to grip us

For me it’s normal. I have always had serious health issues in the heat despite being very fit and healthy otherwise. I also get summer SAD badly and have been in floods of tears over this week’s forecast, with the nagging worry of how I will cope and if this will be the event that hospitalises me again 😢. And it gets worse every year. On the one hand people who never used to struggle with summer and used to think my concerns unjustified are now starting to tell me they’re finding summer unpleasant at best and worrying at worst in terms of the future. Sadly on the other hand, there are still too many people who can’t think beyond getting a few days off (people who throw a sickie to go out in the heat frustrate me as it means people genuinely ill in it like me don’t generally get believed by employers!) and don’t want to face the fact we all need to try and do anything we can as individuals to contribute to slowing down climate change.

@JessicaPeach I agree with this! It was warm on Friday and when I picked my son up at 3.30 he had just came in from an extra play time, he was ringing wet and that’s not an exaggeration. He had sweat running down his face from an extra 30 mins running round the field. Which has 0 shade!

I really hope you’re not in the SE if you’re watering your grass. Parts of Kent ran out of water completely a few weeks ago!

It’s going to be 33 where we are. We are retired so we will probably go out and make the most of the sunshine

I detest the heat with a passion and try to just stay in the coolest room in the house with the curtains shut. We are well insulated and the room stays cool.

Unfortunately my parents are both frail and unwell and I have to spend time there which is very hot, and I spent last night in A&E with my father and it was hot as Hades in the waiting room.

Dreading next week.

I do. I hate the heat too. I remember when summers used to be 23degrees. Now they are 35. It’s terrifying.
I look at people having babies and question what sort of future they will have.

It’s grim, utterly grim. Roll on winter.

Yes I worry because I know how fatigued I’ll be and I hate how that impacts on my ability to work, do housework, go to the gym etc

Also, is anyone else thoroughly sick of the twats who say they’re loving the heat, enjoy the sun or some inane crap, whilst we are literally seeing climate breakdown before our eyes? Utter wankers.

Yes, I have health issues that flare in the Summer and I also have Summer SAD but it seems socially unacceptable to complain or mention it as everyone wants to enjoy it....it just adds to the depression about it. I cope better abroad as the houses etc are more set up for it with AC and shutters etc. I am really dreading the next few days...38 forecast here.

I live in Scotland where the summer is a mix of sun and rain. When the sun comes out it is hot but not unbearable. We went to Cornwall during the heatwave a few years ago and really struggled with 34 degrees so I feel your pain. If you’re too hot come to Scotland we’re a friendly bunch.

Your kids will probably have to face a lot worse in 50 years time. Did you not factor that in?

And if those "twats" stop saying they are loving the heat and enjoying the sun how is that going to help? Talking about inane things to say ......

People are allowed to enjoy sunshine and hot weather, we don't all have to be miseries who want to live in cold temps. Where I live it's winter and yesterday it was a June record breaking 25C - bring it on. Me saying that is going to have zero effect on climate change - just the same as if I complained.

Yes very worried. I don't seem to be able to go out in even 21/22 degrees anymore when it's sunny as I start to feel ill. I've just had air conditioning fitted but I still feel anxious because it's a huge existential threat.

I also think there's been a sudden acceleration that's coincided with the ocean surface temperatures suddenly increasing unexpectedly. We're just entering a very strong El Niño as well so God knows what will happen this year.

I love the hot weather and think it is much easier to cope with if you dress for it. Cotton clothing and dresses rather than trousers or shorts as I find them much cooler. We use water butts and are increasingly parsimonious with other water use for the drier times that are coming.
We have also set up our, very small London, garden for the increasing temperatures. Shrubs for shelter and also a large cantilever umbrella for additional shade which the covers the grass area and still allows full sun to ripen fruit bushes - we are now growing things which would not have thrived in the UK a few years ago and preserved our own olives for the first time last year.
The climate is changing and though we can slow it we cannot reverse it so we need to adapt.

Why would they be sent home??

Yes of course people are allowed to 'enjoy the heat' but anyone that doesn't realise that a week of 30+ temperatures in the UK in June is signalling a massive climate issue - is a twat.