{"id":455289,"date":"2026-05-22T22:48:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T22:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/455289\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T22:48:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T22:48:15","slug":"why-do-heatwaves-make-us-feel-angry-or-anxious-four-ways-to-feel-calmer-when-its-hot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/455289\/","title":{"rendered":"Why do heatwaves make us feel angry or anxious? Four ways to feel calmer when it\u2019s hot"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As Britain anticipates its first heatwave of the year<\/a>, with temperatures forecast to reach the mid-30s, the usual excitement for sunshine can be overshadowed by an underlying concern. <\/p>\n

Beyond the immediate physical discomfort and exhaustion, these intense periods of heat are increasingly affecting our mental well-being<\/a> and overall mood. <\/p>\n

To understand the psychological impact of prolonged high temperatures and explore strategies for maintaining balance, The Independent spoke with Dr Ravi Gill<\/a>, a practitioner psychologist.<\/p>\n

Can heatwaves impact our mood?<\/p>\n

Physiological changes in the body and brain due to heat can significantly affect mood during a heatwave. \u201cHeat<\/a> disrupts neurotransmitter systems (serotonin), impairs sleep and raises stress hormones like cortisol, which are key regulators of mood and impulse control,\u201d says Gill.<\/p>\n

\"HeatHeat disrupts neurotransmitter systems (serotonin), impairs sleep and raises stress hormones (Alamy\/PA)<\/p>\n

The physical discomfort and disrupted sleep from heatwaves can also exacerbate mood instability, trigger anxiety spikes, or worsen irritability, says the psychologist.<\/p>\n

\u201cLingering discomfort and environmental stress strains emotional resilience, making even minor irritants feel overwhelming,\u201d adds Gill. \u201cHeatwaves can also escalate social tensions \u2013 whether at home, in traffic, or public spaces \u2013 turning minor triggers into conflicts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Research<\/a> also suggests that people with pre-existing mental health conditions are more vulnerable during heatwaves.<\/p>\n

\u201cConditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia can make it harder to recognise early signs of heat stress or to take action,\u201d notes Gill, \u201cIn addition, some psychiatric medications (e.g., antipsychotics, certain antidepressants, mood stabilisers) reduce the body\u2019s ability to sweat or regulate temperature, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion or heatstroke.\u201d<\/p>\n

What impact do sleep disturbances by heat have on our mood and minds?<\/p>\n

\u201cHigh nighttime temperatures make it harder for the body to drop its core temperature, which is essential for initiating and maintaining deep, restorative sleep,\u201d says Gill. \u201cPeople wake more often, particularly during REM<\/a> sleep, which is vital for emotional processing and memory consolidation. Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep reduces overall rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"NighttimeNighttime temperatures make it harder for the body to drop its core temperature (Alamy\/PA)<\/p>\n

This can have a profound impact on our emotional regulation.<\/p>\n

\u201cPoor sleep lowers activity in the prefrontal cortex (responsible for impulse control) and heightens amygdala reactivity (linked to fear, anger, and anxiety). This makes us more emotionally volatile,\u201d explains Gill. \u201cLack of REM sleep amplifies stress responses and reduces resilience to everyday frustrations.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition, sleep deprivation impairs attention, working memory, decision-making, and problem-solving, increasing mental fatigue.\u201d<\/p>\n

What impact can heatwaves have on our cognitive functions like memory, focus and decision-making?\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHeatwaves can impact and impair core cognitive functions like memory, focus and decision-making, and the reasons are a mix of direct brain effects and secondary factors like dehydration and sleep disruption,\u201d says Gill.<\/p>\n

\"HeatwavesHeatwaves can impact and impair core cognitive functions like memory. (Alamy\/PA)<\/p>\n

Reduced cerebral blood flow, neurotransmitter disruption and electrolyte imbalance are just a few factors that can have significant impacts on our cognitive function during a heatwave.<\/p>\n

\u201cHigh temperatures can cause blood vessels to dilate and divert blood toward the skin for cooling, reducing blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain\u2019s thinking centres (especially the prefrontal cortex),\u201d explains Gill. \u201cMeanwhile, heat stress also alters the balance of dopamine, serotonin and acetylcholine, which are critical for attention, learning and memory.<\/p>\n

\u201cSweating also depletes sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes, affecting nerve signal transmission and slowing mental processing.\u201d<\/p>\n

What impact can dehydration during heatwaves have on our mood and mind?<\/p>\n

\u201cEven mild dehydration (1-2 percent body weight loss in fluids) can slow neural processing and impair memory, attention, and reaction time,\u201d says Gill. \u201cDehydration increases cortisol and alters serotonin activity, leading to irritability, anxiety, and lower frustration-tolerance.<\/p>\n

\u201cReduced blood volume and electrolyte imbalances limit oxygen and nutrient delivery to the brain, causing mental sluggishness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are some coping strategies to help counter-balance some of these effects\u2026<\/p>\n

Prioritise hydration with electrolytes<\/p>\n

\u201cDrink water regularly, not just when you feel thirsty, and include electrolyte sources,\u201d advises Gill. \u201cThis helps to maintain optimal brain signalling, prevents cognitive slowing, and reduces irritability linked to dehydration.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DrinkDrink water regularly, not just when you feel thirsty (Alamy\/PA)<\/p>\n

Maintain a cooling sleep environment\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cTry to keep to a consistent sleep-wake schedule. Use fans, blackout curtains, breathable bedding, and, if possible, pre-cool your bedroom before sleep,\u201d recommends Gill. \u201cPreserving deep and REM sleep protects emotional regulation, memory consolidation, and decision-making capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Practise heat-adapted stress regulation\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cUse grounding or breathing exercises in cooler parts of the day \u2013 gentle stretching or yoga in shaded or air-conditioned spaces can also help,\u201d says Gill. \u201cThese regulate cortisol and keep the nervous system from staying in a prolonged \u201cfight-or-flight\u201d state.\u201d<\/p>\n

Structure your day around the heat<\/p>\n

\u201cSchedule mentally demanding tasks for cooler morning hours and take regular breaks during peak heat,\u201d suggests Gill. \u201cThis protects focus and working memory, reducing mistakes caused by heat-related cognitive fatigue.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":455290,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[163,85,46,522,523],"class_list":["post-455289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mental-health","tag-health","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-mental-health","tag-mentalhealth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/455289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=455289"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/455289\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/455290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=455289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=455289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=455289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}