Hot Temperature. Hot Temper?

 


Hello FPA friends and family! We have arrived in the month of August. We're gearing up to send our kiddos back to school and resume some of our normal rhythms. We're also on the edge of a changing season, shifting away from the heat of the summer into the crispy cool of the fall.

You may have noticed (I'd be shocked if you didn't) that our summer came with some intensely high temperatures. I stay curious about the relationship between external environment and internal experience. The heat waves of the season made me wonder about the impact of hot weather on irritability, mood, and relationships.

There are some real implications of abnormally hot weather on our physical, emotional, and relational well-being. You might notice during heat waves that you have a shorter fuse, you tend to snap back at others, you might have difficulty concentrating, some general restlessness or an antsy feeling, your baseline frustration might have risen. This is all directly correlated with temperature.

Research tells us that higher temperatures impact serotonin levels in the brain, which directly contributes to a lower mood and increased stress. Serotonin is one of a few neurotransmitters that regulate mood as well as regulate body temperature. Heat causes our bodies to work harder to keep the internal temperature safe, which in turn increases our levels of cortisol in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone that acts as an internal fire alarm. Heat can impact sleep quality or quantity, which cycles us into a higher baseline of physiological stress and reduces our capacity to manage the minor irritations of daily life.

So my friends, if you've found yourself extra grumpy or generally impatient this summer… it's not just you. This is a collective experience and a natural physiological response to an extreme environment.

My advice for you is this: keep it cool.

  • Get yourself to a cooler environment, stay indoors as much as possible when the heat waves strike.
  • Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Your body needs it. Water and electrolytes are your best friends here, caffeinated and sugary drinks are going to further dehydrate your body and your body is not going to thank you for it.
  • Take some deep breaths. Seriously, take some deep breaths. Deep breathing resets our nervous system so that we can act more thoughtfully and think more clearly.
  • Practice healthy stress management. Take up an indoor hobby for these hot days.
  • Be nice to yourself and to the people around you. If you snap at your loved ones, notice where your irritability level is, make a concise and sincere apology, and go do something cooling!

- Rae Cowen, LMFT

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