Heat increases stress and aggression, 5 tips to keep them at bay

Boiling spirits stirred up by the heat. “The increase in temperatures can be considered a powerful stress factor, capable of reducing our ability to control negative environmental stimuli, and in some circumstances it can predispose to aggressive and impulsive behaviors”, warns psychotherapist Eleonora Iacobelli, president of Eurodap. (European Association for Panic Attack Disorders) and scientific director of Bioequilibrium, which dictates 5 rules for not mentally succumbing to the heatwave. “In a period in which we already suffer from the fatigue accumulated during the year and the concern for the new peak of infections from Covid – underlines the expert – the heat does nothing but negatively affect our psychophysical balance. In itself it could be enough. the thermal factor to increase our nervousness and our aggressiveness, but in addition to this we must also keep in mind the cyclical nature of some psychic pathologies relating above all to mood states “. What happens in physiological terms is that “heat, at the neurobiological level – explains Iacobelli – affects the brain cells by altering the levels of minerals and can lead to experiencing sensations of alarm and danger which, if not managed, lead to control behaviors. and avoidance, in the illusion of feeling protected, but which on the contrary will make us feel fragile and threatened “. In addition, adds the psychotherapist, “the heat for most people also affects other important aspects of life such as sleep, appetite and concentration. This affects daily performance, including work”. 5 useful tips suggested by the expert, to keep these ‘side effects’ of heat at bay: “Try to make a plan of daily commitments so as to avoid having to use useless energy; do not burden yourself with commitments beyond your physical and mental possibilities; pay attention to dehydration because it affects not only the body, but also the psycho-emotional state; make sure you sleep in a quiet environment, which allows for a truly re-energizing rest; avoid taking exciting foods (coffee, alcohol, nicotine) in excessive quantities, as if on the one hand they can help you increase performance, on the other hand they inevitably negatively affect anxiety and nervousness, increasing them “.