Anxious about going to work in Friday's heat

[Infinity07]

I work in a public sector job, it's very demanding, fairly physical and carries the responsibility of others.
I have a long term anxiety and a panic disorder (under treatment) which work are aware of but it's not really an issue there. However, I do have certain triggers and one thing is when the weather is extra hot like it's predicted to be on Friday (33°c here in the SE). The heat really makes me panic as I get anxious about how it physically makes me feel. I have health anxiety. The older I've got, the worse I seem to experience this.

So I'm debating with my conscience whether to take Friday off work or maybe part of the day off. Work will not accept my anxiety reason regarding the weather, I just know what they're like. So I'd have to say something else.

It's only Tuesday and I'm already getting so stressed about this. Don't know what to do.

Why not just take a day from your annual leave? That’s what it’s there for.

Move to Scotland, its freezing here

I have read that putting a bowl or bucket of ice in front of a fan cools the air that circulates, or (if funds permit) you can get portable air con units from around £100. I know that's nor especially cheap and not assuming you have £100 spare but just a suggestion

Teachers don't get annual leave

RTFT, OP is a teacher.

And the prize for the least helpful comment, goes to you. Well done. Hope you've proved a point 🙄

Did you read the thread? The OP is a teacher.

OP get one of these on emergency delivery from (shh) Amazon (ducks)

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004VMF652/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have a medical issue that leads to collapsing in heat, this is a lifesaver. Soak thoroughly first thing in the morning, stick in the tumble drier, wet it down again at lunchtime.

They get more than pretty much everyone else…

But ye, I replied before seeing that the OP was a teacher.

OP, yours is a responsible job, and you owe it to your pupils to be there to teach them.

Others have given you some good ideas; dress appropriately, keep some iced water with you, and use a fan and a spray.

You said in your OP I have a long term anxiety and a panic disorder (under treatment) which work are aware of but it's not really an issue there.

If this is true then I think as it's just one day, you should use the above strategies to get through it.

Looking ahead, it's only going to get hotter so you may need to think about your long term employment options.

@worraliberty You gem! Just ordered one, thank you!

Fellow anxiety sufferer here! If you take a day off, you are giving into your condition. Have you had CBT to give you any tools to tackle high triggers?

Reading what you have said, it seems you are extremely unhappy in your job and the overwhelming feeling coming from the heat trigger is actually about your day to day unhappiness. I think you need to look at that and see what can be done either in the school you are in or elsewhere. Once you start looking you may feel a sense of control and also feel like you are not in this situation forever.

😂

I dread the heat OP so you have my sympathy. Try to get a cross draught going in your classroom.
I use a water mister like Evian aerosol spray and also have a foot spray. Combine this with fans.

Move to Scotland...

keep your wrists wet as well as the back of your neck
try keeping a damp cloth on your neck

No you can’t take the day off just because it’s hot, you will be fine.

Get a chillow! I forgot, I used to have one of these when I worked at a school with no aircon.

I don’t have anxiety but my classroom gets to over 30 when it’s not actually that hot outside, as it’s in direct sun and the windows hardly open. The children are young so my job is active. I’m anxious about how bad it will be, given that inside temps are normally much more than outside temps with the sun.

If you can face a class, you can definitely face 33 degrees of heat. The upside is that the heat acts like a sedative on the children. Just don’t be too ambitious when it comes to your lesson objectives!

I have a portable AC unit that I use at home so I can at least rest and sleep whilst not at work.

I also find that I can cope with one odd day of heat way better than several days in a row.

Fundamentally though OP heat can really trigger anxiety symptoms. If this happens to you it would be reasonable to go home sick during the day. I think it would be reasonable to discuss in advance with your head the affect that heat has on your health so that you can agree mitigating strategies.

It won't be helping you if you are worrying already about Friday as I'm sure you know. Try to look after yourself and use any relaxation strategies that work for you.

The pupils will be hot too. Used to love having lessons outside back in the Seventies but guess that isn't done now. At least you have a relatively short day compared to some and you don't wear uniform. It won't last long.

It's as bad for us who are stuck under icy air conditioning. I'd rather have the heat.

As a teacher you’ve got a lot of freedom about what you wear - no uniform. So cool cotton clothing. Plenty of water. A desk fan? Ice packs, chill pillow etc. As many windows and doors open as possible. It doesn’t sound like it’ll be much fun but your anxiety treatment is not working if you’re contemplating time off for this, that’s not a proportionate response.

I totally get it, the heat makes me feel ill and nauseous and it causes my asthma to flare up. I actually start getting anxious about summer about two months before it rolls around. I would take the day off but I would be worried about the rest of the summer. I have no advice as I probably would find a new job if I ever had to work in the heat or somewhere there was no A/C.