[NuckingFutz]

Just wondering how a hot summer can mess with your meds and mental illness...let's hear it!

[Amazonmom]

The hot summer dehydrates me even if I drink more. Then I shake like a leaf and have a horrible time dropping things or can't draw labs at work. Then I feel very mentally ill and hate myself. The stinkin' propranolol doesn't even make the tremor leave me!

But sunlight keeps my mood higher so I don't feel as crappy as I do when it's dark.

[Rhiannonsmoon]

Summer is harsher on me because of the higher metabolic rate and the amount of water I drink causes the controlled release to release quicker so I have to take my evening meds earlier; which isn't good because I get sleepy earlier and miss my tv

[Perna]

It's been messing some with my asthma I think but if it's "that" bad, I just don't go out.

[Onward2wards]

This heat increases physical stress and can interfere with concentration. It also requires buying more fluids to drink, raises the electric bill to alarming levels (power hungry air conditioning) and therefore adds more stress that way also. If I feel the need to get away for a bit and visit the library or relax in a park, I am sweaty and tired by the time I get there (I walk/take public transportation) so it even makes relaxation less relaxing! I can't wait for fall weather to kick in...

[Fresia]

The one med in particular makes me prone to heat exhaustion, have been on it for years but still have to really careful. Doing yardwork the other day caught me off guard, dizziness, sweats with chills, and flushed skin set in. I hadn't had this in so long, I wondered what was happening to me. I'd forgotten about the med and heat; it also hasn't been this hot here in a long time. Was able to get inside, to the fan, ice packs, and hydrate in time. Couldn't get off the couch for awhile though.

[NuckingFutz]

Wears me out. I open the door and it feels like an oven outside. Temp gauge says 105F. Not good for taking lithium. Sleepy all the time. Even when I walk to the store at night it is taxing on my energy. I can't wait until fall either. I googled mental health and heat and came up with some good info though. Water is my best friend though.

[imatter2]

being on lithium as well, the hot weather affects me badly too. Sun sensitivity, I burn even through SPF 70 sun screen; light sensitivity even my darkest dark sunglasses my eyes hurt. Dehydration - though I drink well over a gallon any day, it's just near impossible to get even more in but my body needs it more than ever in the heat (also 105 here today, and has been 99 or higher every day for the last week straight; no end predicted in sight- ahh, California!). I already suffer insomnia but the heat makes it even worse - the hours I do get are restless and I often wake sweating even in the air conditioned house. no I'm not old enough for perimenopause yet . My mood suffers and so my whole family suffers too. Though it may be a cool 75 in the house, it's like my brain feels the heat anyway and just goes screwey.

Still and all it's a damn sight better than where I used to live, where 90 degrees would break a record . I'm just still learning to adjust, I think, hope and pray that with time my body will learn the weather patterns here and start to cooperate a little better.

[NuckingFutz]

I forgot to mention irratability...mine and other people's. Crime goes up too. That just sux. I do not remember it being so hot when I was younger.

[Aunt Donna]

I take blood pressure meds which make me sensitive to sunlight as it is. The heat has made me very irritable. It seems like I could argue with myself. LOL. My temper seems to hair trigger. Just ask my husband and mother. My meds for my mental problems don't seem to be working as they should. My doctor told me to go in a dark, cool room whenever possible because this heat is also giving me headaches.

[imatter2]

Originally Posted by faylowell

I take blood pressure meds which make me sensitive to sunlight as it is. The heat has made me very irritable. It seems like I could argue with myself. LOL. My temper seems to hair trigger. Just ask my husband and mother. My meds for my mental problems don't seem to be working as they should. My doctor told me to go in a dark, cool room whenever possible because this heat is also giving me headaches.

I now fall asleep with an ice pack on my stomach. Even in the AC house. Naps, Bedtime, if I am intending or hoping to sleep I break out the ice pack. It helps a ton. Perhaps it is something you could try?

[NuckingFutz]

Maybe it would be a good if I put a heat advisory thread out there so everyone knows to literally to watch out for the heat?

[lonegael]

Hear you all. I drink so much water because of the lithium that people have asked me if I'm diabetic. I get so much pain from the glare even on cloudy days that I have a hard time going outside sometimes. I burn, but some of that might be because all my ancestors are from cold, foggy, rainy islands. I have an even harder time getting horizontal, and with the sun coming up a 3AM here, I have ha hard time getting the sleep I need to keep stable.

I find soaking for a while in a COLD bath helps me at least reduce my body temp enouh to conk out. HUGGGSSS
PS, if you sleep in the same room as someone else, don't. People can warm up rooms unbelievably!

[Fresia]

Staying hydrated, drinking a lot of water is SO important for everyone in this heat. I just cannot believe how much am going through at this point, especially after the earlier scare and I am SURE missing A/C.

Although I also am not ready for winter, put it off as long as possible. I am loving the sunshine, warmth, and being able to go to the beach to cool off. I'll make due with the heat for now.

[brittfly]

The heat has made a horror of a summer for me.... I have DID and we r triggered by hot and humid... the humid is the main part.... I cannot WAIT for the first turned leaf... I just want to leave this summer in the dust and forget how horrible it was... i think my T does to LOL.

[Princess_Obsidian]

Greetings,

The heat can negatively affect, anyone, mentally ill or not. Drinking plenty of water helps the most, from my personal experience. Though, the wise know to avoid the heat, if it is truly bothersome to their health.

Best of luck to you.

Have a good one.