Anxiety so much worse in Summer/hot weather

[Backtothe80splease]

Does anyone else find this?

I’ve suffered with anxiety since I was a child.

I’m in peri now and have a lot of stress with an unwell parent which is certainly not helping with my poor mental health but I have noticed in previous years and am certainly noticing this summer (and especially this week with the heatwave) that my anxiety skyrockets in the height of summer and not sure why.

Tbh you think summer would reduce anxiety but I am feeling just awful. I wake with very high anxiety and don’t come down from it until the evening. By the evening and at night I feel a whole lot calmer.

It also makes my (decades long) IBS much worse which also exacerbates my anxiety.

It ruins the summer for me and I’m finding myself longing for evenings, cooler days and the autumn. I still have anxiety 365 days of the year but it’s not so intense then.

Why though? It is as though the extra bright days (hate bright light and have to wear sunglasses all the time) and warmth are triggering something.

Does anyone else experiencing this? I don’t know how to calm myself (I exercise, eat well, only drink water, meditate, sleep ok).

Just to add also that cortisol awakening response has particular effect when waking up in daylight rather than when it's dark (I think).

My cortisol is definitely very high in the mornings, I’ve been thinking about buying one of those test kits to see just how high it is.

Funny - mine has too. I have many memories of being on holiday in beautiful places and feeling full of doom. It must be ‘a thing’ or maybe it’s having more time on your hands and thinking…

I'm so sorry you are going through this but on the other hand, reading your story has comforted me so much. I have the same problem! I hate summer. I hate the sun and the heat and the constant feeling of dizziness and sickness. The commute to the office, sweating all day (I live in a country with an average of 32 C each and every day from May to October and sometimes even higher).
I've been having symptoms of IBS since January, not diagnosed because I'm terrified to see a doctor but I assume it's IBS since I don't lose weight and there is no blood loss. The symptoms got much worse since a month ago and it's because of the summer anxiety. Before I leave home, I need to go to the toilet 3-4 times, feel sick all the way to the office and at night I can't sleep, thinking about going through the same routine the next day (IBS, heat, fear, anxiety).

My doctor dismisses me, tells me I have to eat healthy, exercise, etc... exercise?? In this heat?? :D

Anyway... I would be the happiest woman in the world if my IBS symptoms left and if I could enjoy life without all these feelings. I've tried therapy and meds but nothing helped...

Btw I'm in peri too (I'm 44) and I have a lot of worries and stress with my teenage son, worries that are illogical (I worry about his health constantly) so I think it's a combination of hormones, severe anxiety and intolerance to heat (I heard it's a thing!).

You could look into dysautonomia as symptoms can mirror /include anxiety and can definitely be affected by temperature

You really have just completely described me there! So sorry you suffer the same, it’s quite miserable isn’t it?

Although I’ve had ibs for half my life, it wasn’t until I hit the age of 46 that it has become a daily and really hard to deal with issue. You may find that it’s the start of perimenopause causing your gut issues.

I have been much happier this week where it’s been cooler. I’ve been able to relax more and have my hot water bottle for my ibs pain. Just read there’s another heatwave due mid July and tbh I’m already panicking about it because I know I’ll feel absolutely rotten.

I completely understand your stress and worry over your teen son. I’m the same. I have a 18 and 16 year old and all I do is stress and fret about them. Doesn’t really help my issues but I just can’t help it. Know you are not alone though

Thanks, I’ll definitely have a look into that.

Thank you so much for your message, it definitely helps to know you are not alone! I guess it's a phase we need to go through. And a doctor told me once, "these are the health issues you got, it's a lottery, each of us has some health related problem, learn to deal with them". And he was right.
One of my best friends is going through chemo, she was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 weeks ago so my problems look so silly when you look at the big picture. We will be fine.

Yes, definitely. Summer is a 'busier' time generally, there are a lot of children and teenagers about, noisy garden machinery, loud conversations and car stereos / doors slamming, and it gets a bit rowdy where I am on weekend nights. I find it all massively anxiety-inducing. It was very rainy the other night and cold and it was lovely!

Thanks Mandarina4

It’s raining right now. I’m sitting with the conservatory door open and listening to it, sitting with my cardigan on and a hot water bottle for my IBS, it’s bliss!

While I always like the stretch in the evenings and the warmer temperatures that come with spring, I find that anxiety starts to creep in as time passes. I think, certainly in my case, I feel that there are more expectations placed upon me in the summer months. You're supposed to be out there, doing stuff, making the most of it. And I feel completely overwhelmed by those expectations, even if they are, largely, self imposed. I always feel optimistic in early spring and then just fold at the prospect of all the stuff I'm 'supposed' to do. Every. Single. Year🙁

That’s so much easier said than done. I have a horrendously crippling anxiety disorder. I can’t work. I wish it were that simple.

I get this in Summer. Autumn comes like blissful relief. You can get SAD in Summer. Less common as most people get it in Winter, but it definitely exists the other way round too. I’ve come to the conclusion it’s Seasonal affective disorder with me, too much light can cause anxiety.

My anxiety is worst in the winter, and on dark, grey days. They add to my sense of unreality.
Medication has helped me a lot, though. Cipralex and Pregabalin have taken away 95% of my panic attacks.

This is me too! I prefer summer but it also makes my anxiety go through the roof. I can't sleep with any light ,and I find myself longing for cosy evenings

I have ADHD - and both my sister and daughter who hav Autism much prefer the winter

I've found it's linked to always being light, feeling like you should be socialising, being seen all the time.
Mines significantly better since moving to a house with the living room at the back as I can still be in private without shutting curtains

Totally relate to light sensitivity and heat anxiety.

Heat anxiety definitely!

I am convinced that light as well as heat triggers hot flushes. On HRT but still get them on sunny days, even in winter.

I know this is an old thread, but I just found it on searching because I'm really finding this a problem.. How's everyone doing with the recent weather?!

First thing that comes to mind is when the body heats up it sweats more to release the heat, your brain may be interpreting the physical symptoms with a “threat” and hence why you feel anxiety.

Secondly it could be a PTSD type trigger, for example if during the summer holidays someone may have spent more type with a violent alcoholic parent who abused them, so whenever summer rolls around it brings back subconscious memories of that trauma.

I think also the lighter mornings can make sleep more difficult.

I most definitely can feel more anxious on really bright days. I get sensory overload as I am mildly autistic. I wear sunglasses when out. Indoors blinds are half drawn as are curtains often.

Thought this was just me! I remember this childhood and assumed it was long family holidays in hot catholic countries with loads of churches, cathedrals and holy relics, away from home (so toys, telly, friends) etc. I do remember pondering death and mortality a lot then.