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.

I don't think it's right to call in sick for this. I have GAD and I get you, but it's a lot of people to let down for something that doesn't sound like a crisis or an emergency, just a bit of a rotten day. If you get through this hot day you might feel less anxious about the next one? 33C+ temperatures can be expected several times a year now, sadly.

RTFT. OP is a teacher. What the fuck do you think happens if she can’t be arsed to go to work on Friday?

Be grateful you aren't having to travel on the Tube. That is intolerable in the heat.

I think you can address this. I’ve had similar specific anxieties in the past and the Thrive programme helped me enormously. It’s about accepting that something uncomfortable might happen - you might feel panicky, overheat, start to sweat, feel unwell etc - BUT you can cope with whatever it is. It’s about not fearing feeling uncomfortable or even very uncomfortable, because you know deep down that you can cope.

Thinking like this takes away the ‘what if’ part of the anxiety, because even in the worst scenario you are in control. It’s about learning that you don’t have to control everything (and let’s face it, weather is something we definitely can’t control), all you have to do is to control your own feelings. And you can do that.

So yes, avoidance isn’t the answer. However, it might be that you just take half the day off this time so that you gradually make yourself stronger. And then really congratulate yourself on coping for that half day.

Eventually you will get over it, I promise. My dear was way more debilitating and it is now more or less cured.

OP I think you really need to speak to your GP about your anxiety, good luck.

She's having treatment. What do you think a five minute appointment with a GP is going to do?

I get panicky in hot, stuffy environments. Logically I know there’s air but you can’t convince the bit of you that needs calming down about that. I find vicks vapour rub really helpful, I’m sure it’s psychosomatic but it helps me.

add that to ensuring you can feel a breeze if possible and keeping well hydrated you may be able to keep your anxiety at bay.

*all the posters who live in hot countries or work in hot conditions- yay for you. The OP doesn’t live in a particularly hot country so isn’t acclimatised or likely to be in an environment set up for hot weather. she also doesn’t work in a kitchen, factory, or the bowels of hell looking for people to pour scorn on over the internet so she’s already taken pretty reasonable measures to deal with it by your standards.

I’m a TA and I know how you feel! The slightest bit of heat brings me out in a sweat at school. I have to suffer in the winter because everyone whacks the heat up and says” ooh it’s so cold!”, but I prefer to be on the cool side. It’s already stifling in our building and that’s with the windows open because of Covid!! I honestly know where you’re coming from.

I'd say the bad behaviour of the kids is likely putting you off.
I don't envy you having to teach kids that don't want to learn.

It must be soul destroying.

You can't force kids to learn if they don't want to, and sadly, their behaviour impacts on the ''Good'' kids who DO want to learn.

I knew a lovely gentle Art teacher who taught in a really rough Vauxhall school, but moved to a Girl's independent school in Oxford, and she was sooo much happier.

Sometimes one just isn't ''Tough'' enough to deal with ''Hard'' kids.

I couldn't do it.

33°c - in some other countries they'd say its a bit chilly out and be taking a jumper just in case. It's not exactly marching across the Sahara.
I'm kind of with @RedRec on this one.

And if you phone in sick for a Friday with the best weather of the year everyone is going to think you are at it

Honestly in your situation I would take a sickie for a day or two

It’ll peak at 32 or (15 and piss down) at 3pm so going home won’t be nice but water, paper to fab yourself with and avoid the tube if you can because that’ll be roasting .

@newyorklassie did you see my response regarding teachers I know who did exactly this? Thank you for the aggressive post but it was unnecessary

Yep - thought it was meant to be a support forum but some posters on here are just so unhelpful and sarcastic.
Sorry op no advice - l have to go to a funeral on Friday and am dreading it for similar reasons.

My DD’s got a GCSE on Friday morning. Despite being ASd and having severe anxiety she hasn’t got much choice about going in.

That will be hard for her but at least it will only be for an hour or two so more manageable then OPs situation of having to be in a stressful situation all day

I teach too.

On the second floor with windows that open 2 inches and huge windows on 2 sides..... It's unbearable in the heat. It'll be 30+ in my classroom tomorrow and lord only knows what on Friday. AC is a pipe dream!!!

I wouldn't take a day sick but I would ask for some mitigation on your situation. Could you take in an extra fan? I have one which has iced water in which I bring in from home, it does help. As does a water spray in front of the fan.

Maybe they could relax the dress code for you a bit so you can be comfier?

My worry about being off is more that avoiding the situation might make it even harder to cope in future?

I emphasise OP, I really do.

I am in two minds about your situation. If I was you, I think I would still go in. Are there things that can help calm you at break time/lunch time/in your pocket?

E.g.:
Stress ball
Ice pack
Face spray

Also, you can get those calming tablets.

Think many on here are missing the point and showing very little empathy. Really shows how uninformed many people are about mental health issues still. You’re feeling trapped OP due to the fact you can’t take the day off and I think that is making you feel worse. I don’t have any advice, other than what others have said about trying to be prepared as much as possible. Could you take some freezer packs to place on pulse points? Sending you love, you’ll be alright, take it an hour or lesson at a time. Much also respect, I couldn’t do your job xx

Totally get what you’re saying. I’m dreading tube journey on Friday but I have to do it. The heat thing is one of my anxieties that I have normally just about managed to overcome but my anxiety has prevented me from doing other stuff. If it’s causing you that much angst I would take the day off but I would think about ways to make it easier for yourself
in the future and maybe practice doing more active stuff in hot weather when you’re not working, public transport etc just so you get used to it. Don’t worry about un sympathetic people on here. Take care of yourself and don’t feel bad about it.

Absolutely nobody said that or suggested that, so why bash public sector workers for you opinion of ONE person who works in the sector. Come on - tell us what you work as so we can all join in and bash you and your colleagues.

You need to address your issues, avoiding the situation isn't going to help in the long run. What is you take Friday off and the weather forecast is wrong? What if we have an extended heatwave?

She can take annual leave for any reason she wants you know. As can private sector workers.

It's only one day (unless they change it).
I do sympathise as I struggle with health issues too.
If past forecasts are anything to go by, it might not even be as hot as they say. It seems to fluctuate on our local forecast by 5 degrees either way every 4 hours!

My classroom got to over 30 degrees last year. I didn’t take any time off due to it (obviously) but I took the kids outside and we did art in the playground. I honestly care more about how it impacts them than me.

Thank you for the helpful, supportive comments and for the many useful tips.
As I said before, I've worked in heat waves and boiling hot classrooms over 12 years in teaching. It's always provoked my anxiety but I've done it. Even that hot summer of 2018, I was 7/8 months pregnant with my dc1 and taught through it. So I have pushed on through in the past but this was before having children.

I'm trying to figure out why I'm feeling worse about it now. I guess it's a combination of things. I've recently gone back into teaching after baby no. 2 and I'm finding it harder (energy wise) than before. The class are very difficult but just 5 more weeks of them! My own children have been poorly this week too which has put an extra strain on. I think since having children, my anxiety has been worse. I've been through pnd twice as well as my ongoing anxiety. It's like I have an overwhelming feeling that I have to be OK/well for my children and that causes greater anxiety.

It also doesn't help that senior management are really hard about letting people go home once you're in. So I worry about going in, feeling ill because of the heat but not being able to leave.