OKLAHOMA CITY –<\/p>\n
During this week\u2019s Mindful Monday, Trisha Koelsch, CEO of Calm Waters, is sharing how rising temperatures can affect mental health. Koelsch shares tips to care for yourself and loved ones. <\/p>\n
\n How does the heat affect mental health? <\/p>\n
Koelsch: They say heat makes you do crazy things. It really does. Those who are most susceptible are people who are on medication or if you\u2019re drinking alcohol, even older people with dementia. It\u2019s hotter outside; your fuse is shorter. It does typically lead to us not taking care of our mental health. We think so much about the physical aspects, but your mental health is just as important. <\/p>\n
\n What are ways to help loved ones? <\/p>\n
Koelsch: Make sure that you\u2019re doing a lot of the same things that we hear about for our physical health during this hot weather. Make sure that you\u2019re doing the same thing, but it\u2019s for your mental health. So bringing them indoors, cooling them off, even making sure you\u2019re getting a good night\u2019s sleep. Ensuring that your older parents and those who are more susceptible to mental health illnesses to bring them in, make sure that they\u2019re cooled off, sleep with a fan on at night. I know that it\u2019s really hard to get a good night\u2019s sleep if you\u2019re too hot, so making sure that you\u2019re cool enough at night and getting enough water, staying hydrated. <\/p>\n
\n What are examples of heat impacting mental health? <\/p>\n
Koelsch: Some of those examples are feeling that heat exhaustion, so being irritable quickly, your temperature rising. You will see the physical aspects on your skin; you\u2019ll start to get redder, hotter, the irritability; they tend to withdraw, be more quiet and isolated. That\u2019s when it\u2019s time to, okay, let\u2019s go take a break, let\u2019s cool off.<\/p>\n
\n What can people do if they need more resources?<\/p>\n