View Full Version : Panic attacks outside because of summer heat
After my experience at work I found out that I can't cope with the heat at all anymore. I was fine until today. My building is naturally a lot cooler so when I went outside today I immediately felt like in an oven. I went to the store like five minutes from home and I wasn't fine, I really don't know if it's the panic or it's something seriously wrong with me. I've felt weak and I felt without an air, wanting to go somewhere where the AC is on and when I came to the store where there was AC, I calmed down.
I am very worried. If I can't walk five or ten minutes in this heat, how will I survive this summer? I don't know what would have happened if there were no places with AC around me, I am afraid to even think about that.
Do you think that something is wrong with me? My face was somewhat redish (I am usually very pale) and hot (I don't know if that's normal).
I am afraid of passing out and dying. These things haven't happened to me before although I've always hated summer.
I am completely fine when it's normal temperature, I don't have a panic then.
This happened first time last September when I was waiting a bus and it was so hot and sunny and I couldn't escape the heat. I got a panic attack so wild that I really thought that I'll die. That feeling that I can't escape the heat is still haunting me. Like I really need to go to the nearest AC or I am dead- feeling.
Do you think that those were panic attacks at all? Maybe something is wrong about me...
Darlene, there's nothing seriously wrong with you. Heat can feel claustrophobic and I would think in Croatia where you are (your flag), it will feel worse than here in the UK. What could be at work, is that when it gets hot, you believe your breathing will suffer so you panic.
You could try wearing loose clothing and avoid going outside at the hottest times of the day, not easy I know. Try some deep breathing exercises too. Hang in there.
Thanks. I woke up now and I see that my cat is nervous too even though our flat is really cooler than some other apartments where I lived. I haven't bought a fan yet because it wasn't so hot until now.
Croatia has horrible summers for over ten years, it wasn't like that when I was a child. But many people like that, when I was living near the sea everyone would enjoy summer except me.
I shouldn't have read anything on google, reading about deaths during heat waves and heat stroke doesn't help. I am really scared now. I am scared every summer that I will die but only this summer I really feel like I will die because I cannot tolerate the heat at all anymore. I live alone because I wanted to move for years and I am scared that this will ruin my life for me even if I don't die.
Also, a cat that I had died suddenly during a heat wave and I am scared for my cat that I have now, I see that he is drinking a lot of water...
I am having a total relapse of anxiety and panic disorder. I've been awake whole night and very anxious. It's been a very stressful year for me, or even two years in a row and I can't cope anymore. This heat is obviously a trigger. I don't know how to help myself, I am on meds, only things that helps me is xanax but when I am exposed to heat even that doesn't work.
Edit: I was outside this morning and didn't have a panic attack because it's cooler than in the afternoon but it was still awful in the sun and my head hurts. But I didn't feel like I'm gonna collapse.
I've had one more panic attack today because it's starting to get hot again. Next week it will be 40 C and I am scared for my life. I've read about a younger guy who passed out in a bus yesterday and I remebered how I almost passed out in a bus too and I am in fear again.
I have AC at home finally but I am so scared because I have to go to the store and post office on Monday. Also I have a fear that AC will broke. This is the first time in my life that I have AC. I feel like I am gonna die without it.
I don't know what happened to me. I was always scared of heat and always thought that I was gonna die but this summer I really don't feel well outside.
I've had one more panic attack today because it's starting to get hot again. Next week it will be 40 C and I am scared for my life. I've read about a younger guy who passed out in a bus yesterday and I remebered how I almost passed out in a bus too and I am in fear again.
I have AC at home finally but I am so scared because I have to go to the store and post office on Monday. Also I have a fear that AC will broke. This is the first time in my life that I have AC. I feel like I am gonna die without it.
I don't know what happened to me. I was always scared of heat and always thought that I was gonna die but this summer I really don't feel well outside.
While I don't intend to come across as patronising in any way, just because one other person passes out on the bus in the heat it doesn't necessarily mean you're very likely to do the very same.
My advice is to carry some bottled water with you at all times for some kind of insurance against dehydration.
One of the best things about trains for me is that there are almost always on-board toilet facilities that us passengers can escape into for a few minutes' privacy if we're having panic attacks or feeling a little unwell (or whatever), unless one suffers from extreme claustrophobia and/or toilet-related anxiety in general, of course.
Such facilities are almost never found on normal buses, at least here in the UK.
Thanks, I will try to carry a bottle of water with me, I always forget that. We don't have that here, at least I think, it's been years since I was on the train.
I feel guilty for staying at home when everyone is somewhere outside but what can I do... I have one life and I am wasting it.
Don't feel guilty - why would you? Just because everyone else wants to go and sweat out in the sun it doesn't mean you have to. I struggle with the heat in the same way as you - I'm just aware of my limits. When it is hot like that I don't leave the house until the heat of the say is past. Cooler and more tolerable at home with the fridge, open windows and drinks.
One little tip - get yourself a little plastic spray bottle - like you get in travel goods - fill it with tap water and take it with you to spray mist your face and neck if necessary. It is wonderfully calming and cools you down instantly.
Don't feel guilty - why would you? Just because everyone else wants to go and sweat out in the sun it doesn't mean you have to. I struggle with the heat in the same way as you - I'm just aware of my limits. When it is hot like that I don't leave the house until the heat of the say is past. Cooler and more tolerable at home with the fridge, open windows and drinks.
One little tip - get yourself a little plastic spray bottle - like you get in travel goods - fill it with tap water and take it with you to spray mist your face and neck if necessary. It is wonderfully calming and cools you down instantly.
Sounds like a smart idea Dorabella.
BTW, we had torrential thunderstorms here in the Midlands yesterday evening.
It wasn't always like that, that's why I feel guilty, I remember nights when I would go out even when it was so hot during the night, I was sweating and it was so crowded because I lived in a place where tourists come every year but at least I've had some kind of a life. I haven't had AC my whole life, this is the first summer that I have it and thank God for that because this summer is especially difficult for me.
I was always afraid of heat and had some panic attacks, some very bad ones but this summer and last September it was much much stronger and that scared me.
I won't go out this week except to the store early in the morning. I hope it will be ok with AC on. I still fear that AC will broke, I hope not, it's an irrational fear.
I've had a really stressful year, my mother was three times in a hospital, two times she was in a critical condition and I called an ambulance even though we live in different cities and it was very traumatic experience. someone broke my heart too and I moved to another city and it's a lot. I guess that contributed to panic attacks.
When I'm going through a bad patch with my anxiety I really struggle with the heat. In all honesty I struggle with it anyway, but when I am feeling relatively calm I can do things that help me feel better. I drink plenty of water and always take water with me, cool showers, wearing natural fabrics, wear a hat if I'm in the sun, electric fan on full, limit physical activity; they all help.
My son is currently on holiday in Croatia, it looks very beautiful.
It wasn't always like that, that's why I feel guilty, I remember nights when I would go out even when it was so hot during the night, I was sweating and it was so crowded because I lived in a place where tourists come every year but at least I've had some kind of a life. I haven't had AC my whole life, this is the first summer that I have it and thank God for that because this summer is especially difficult for me.
I was always afraid of heat and had some panic attacks, some very bad ones but this summer and last September it was much much stronger and that scared me.
I won't go out this week except to the store early in the morning. I hope it will be ok with AC on. I still fear that AC will broke, I hope not, it's an irrational fear.
I've had a really stressful year, my mother was three times in a hospital, two times she was in a critical condition and I called an ambulance even though we live in different cities and it was very traumatic experience. someone broke my heart too and I moved to another city and it's a lot. I guess that contributed to panic attacks.
I suspect a lot of your current issues might very well be a result of subconscious hypervigilance largely stemming from the recent Covid pandemic, despite the fact that you haven't even mentioned anything about Covid in this particular thread, but were scared witless of it at other times in various other threads on here.
Just out of interest, is the fear of Covid still an issue for you, especially as (for better or worse) it seems largely forgotten about in the media of late?
Catkins, yes, it's really beautiful here even though I am in Zagreb, not on the coast anymore, but that's why I am struggling because I could go for a walk, the city is empty, but I can't...
Lencoboy, I stopped wearing masks when the government ended the pandemic and I don't have that paralisyng fear anymore but it's funny that you've mentioned it because this morning at the post office some guy was sniffing, like he had a cold or something and I was feeling very uncomfortable thinking that I could catch Covid from him. But I don't think about it anymore, I mean, I was thinking about Covid for two years every single day when I was sitting at home, now I think of it just when someone coughs, I still can't feel comfortable around people who are showing signs of an infection.
Maybe you are right. I thought that it wasn't connected, Covid wasn't on my mind at all when I was opening this thread, but maybe it's all connected.
Catkins, yes, it's really beautiful here even though I am in Zagreb, not on the coast anymore, but that's why I am struggling because I could go for a walk, the city is empty, but I can't...
Lencoboy, I stopped wearing masks when the government ended the pandemic and I don't have that paralisyng fear anymore but it's funny that you've mentioned it because this morning at the post office some guy was sniffing, like he had a cold or something and I was feeling very uncomfortable thinking that I could catch Covid from him. But I don't think about it anymore, I mean, I was thinking about Covid for two years every single day when I was sitting at home, now I think of it just when someone coughs, I still can't feel comfortable around people who are showing signs of an infection.
Maybe you are right. I thought that it wasn't connected, Covid wasn't on my mind at all when I was opening this thread, but maybe it's all connected.
Hence why I stated perhaps 'subconsciously', despite Covid in general barely figuring in the news of late.
Plus there's still various other things that can cause sniffles that already existed pre-Covid since time immemorial, such as hayfever, and ordinary 'colds' in general, that hardly anyone has ever really batted an eyelid over in the grand scheme of things, apart from possibly being mistaken for Covid in 2020-21, of course.
I am having a panic attack at home, AC is on, I was eating an ice cream and suddenly I started to feel weird, it was too cold and my mouth were frozen and the lightheadedness started. I am gonna have to change my meds, these aren't working anymore. I live alone and I am really scared to change meds but I am scared that I won't be able to control panic anymore.
I think it's an accumulated stress over the years. Last year was really awful for me and then I moved and all problems with my mom and her health and I can't cope with all that anymore. I thought I am good but obviously I am not.
The worst feeling is when I start to feel so stiff, I've even read about stiff syndrome and got so scared.
I shouldn't have read the news, the same panic that was when pandemic was going on. I was outside yesterday for a short amount of time and I was on the edge, panicky. But it was only 29-30 C. I can't even think what would it be with me if I go out these days when it's 35-40. We ruined this planet. I am gonna be scared till the end of my life. That's pretty sad.
What are you doing to manage your anxiety? This needs to be your focus here.
I take my meds but they are not working when it's hot. I can't go to the doctor until it is a little bit colder. I don't know what else to do. I am not so anxious when it's not hot.
You need to start working on some coping strategies. Meds are good, but you need to put the work in, too.
My main stress is that my mother keeps ending up in a hospital since I've left home. It was very difficult to live with her because she has schizophrenia so I finally moved out but since then those episodes keeps happening. She starts throwing up and her electrolytes become abnormal very fast. She ended up being unconscious and when she didn't answer the phone I called the police and ambulance and they found her unconcious covered in vomit. I live in another city. She is in the hospital now too and she was a week ago, it keeps happening but this time an ambulance took her before she was unconscious.
I had a big trauma when I had to call the police and when they found her because doctors said that she was very close to death. They can't prevent that from happening, they told me that it could be due to her medication for schizophrenia but she has been taking it for 20 years and it strange that it causes a problem now. Her psychiatrist doesn't want to hear about that. I live in constant fear and she doesn't want to go to a nursing home. I feel like I will ruin myself and my health because of her and I moved out for that not to happen but it's still the same.
Edit: They said that it is risperidone that causes that unfortunately. I am scared that she will be at very bad shape again and have paranoid thoughts when they take her off risperidone. My life is complete mess due to her illness and I don't know how to cope anymore.
I shouldn't have read the news, the same panic that was when pandemic was going on. I was outside yesterday for a short amount of time and I was on the edge, panicky. But it was only 29-30 C. I can't even think what would it be with me if I go out these days when it's 35-40. We ruined this planet. I am gonna be scared till the end of my life. That's pretty sad.
I agree with you there Darlene.
Sadly it's the price we're all paying for pandering to all the climate change non-believers for far too long now, who tend to play the 'fascist police state' card whenever the authorities in any given country try to come up with any mitigating policies.
Honestly, many of these sad cases probably don't even know the true meaning of the term 'fascist police state'. Plus they blatantly assume it's their god-given right to drive their beloved vintage gas-guzzling souped-up tonka toys around willy-nilly while shunning newer vehicles (most of which are meant to be more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly) as vastly inferior, swan off on holidays abroad for a fortnight 3 times a year (and still moan that they're skint at other times), chuck litter and cigarette ends out of their car windows, smoke in their cars with children present, boasting 'it never did past generations any harm', blah-blah-blah!! Selfish, ignorant barstewards!
To paraphrase Kylie Minogue, I just 'can't get them out of my head' right now!
Do you know many of these people personally, Lenco?
I went to take out the trash and pick up delivery, it was 23am and it was horrible outside. This is the worst summer ever.
Lenco, I agree with you, every word.
Do you know many of these people personally, Lenco?
I did know one person who used to be the bass player in my brother's covers band back in the 90s-2000s who was in his early-mid 50s at the time, and he was adamant that there is/was 'no such thing as Global Warming' and it is/was a 'con' by corrupt politicians to extort tax money out of us to line their own pockets. He was highly opinionated in general and was of one of the typical 'never did me/past generations any harm' brigade regarding the usual things that are increasingly regarded as taboo today such as being smacked and smoked around as a child, and not wearing seatbelts in cars prior to 1983.
I've still occasionally seen the odd person smoking in cars with children present since 2015 when it became illegal, and when I've said to others (including my dad) 'should we report them?' they've pretty much said 'no, the authorities have got far more important things to be dealing with right now plus there aren't enough police officers, social workers, etc anyway'.
It seems like we've basically become a defeatist society over the years where we're basically inclined to appease and pander to those who break rules/laws, especially in the interests of our own personal conveniences, and indeed whilst wearing rose-tinted specs.
I went to take out the trash and pick up delivery, it was 23am and it was horrible outside. This is the worst summer ever.
Lenco, I agree with you, every word.
Thank you Darlene. Sorry for hijacking your thread though as Global Warming and people's selfishness and ignorance in general has been playing on my own mind over recent days.
Not going to argue with you on Darlene's thread, because it's not fair and was wrong of me to start.
Hope you're doing okay.
Not going to argue with you on Darlene's thread, because it's not fair and was wrong of me to start.
Hope you're doing okay.
Yes, apart from having a raging headache and IBS symptoms today.
But you're correct, this thread isn't the place for us to be bickering over our differences of opinion over the issues I mentioned upthread, so I'll just let it go.
I think something is really wrong with my thermoregulation. How can I feel hot and cold when the room temperature is the same- 21-22 when AC is on and these days is always on.
Sometimes I feel cold and I wear long sleeves and sleep under the blanket and sometimes like right now I feel like it's not cold enough. The room temperature is completely the same.
I am very worried.
I have Hashimoto and I must go see doctor now when pandemic is over, I am worried that I have a cancer that's spread. I don't know. I feel so exhausted, I can barely do household chores. I feel extreme fatigue, have no appetite these two days since my mother ended up in a hospital yesterday, they released her the same day but I don't feel well. I was extremely worried about my cat today because he didn't go to the litter and then he finally went but all that makes me miserable, anxious and I don't know if this fatigue is due to extreme stress or I am dying.
There was a terrible storm in my city today, some people died and there are many who were injured. It was so awful, thankfully I was at home but it was like Armageddon. This has just fueled my fear of weather and being outside. :(
How are you doing?
I worry about the heat too. I get horrible symptoms and feel like something dreadful will happen.
I get the same as you where the temperature in the room can stay the same yet sometimes I feel cold and sometimes I feel hot.
How have you been recently?
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