(painting by Yvonne Coomber)
Here in England, we have been experiencing a heat wave of over 30 degrees (yesterday was 34 and the hottest day in England for decades). Needless to say, we are not really set up for this type of weather and most homes don’t have air conditioning, just fans and open windows!
I have decided to write about this because heat and its effects can very much affect mental health wellbeing.
Heat can make you feel sluggish, tired and overwhelmed. It can make you more vulnerable to pressures and less able to cope. Add to that a mental health or physical health condition or concern and you will find that many people struggle in this type of weather.
There are also the physical concerns of dehydration, exhaustion, sun stroke, sun burn and the impact this has on wellbeing and mental health. It is so important to keep out the sun and keep hydrated. The intense heat can also affect sleep- and stop one from falling asleep and getting adequate rest. Again this will impact on our overall wellbeing, making one feel low or anxious or extremely tired or in the case of mood disorders, has multiple implications.
I find that when its this hot and there is no air conditioning, I feel less able to cope and more tired. However I am proud of myself for doing my best in this weather. Luckily, its going to cool off a bit now too.
On the positive side, the sunshine brings much needed Vitamin D and can be a mood booster too! Just make sure you stay safe in the sun, summer is well and truly here 🙂
beurownlight.com 
I’ve heard and read about the heatwave you’re going through in England. I hope you make it through. I understand how difficult the high heat can be. It definitely affects our mental and our physical health. I live in Arizona, where just the other day we had a high temperature of 119 degrees Fahrenheit. We’re having record temperatures here. I wish I knew when it would all end. Best of luck to you, I’ll be thinking of you.
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