Anxiety can be a challenging and ongoing issue for many people to cope with. That said, for some, this mental health issue could become worse during the summer months. The following brief blog post will explain why. 

Increased Social Pressure

The summer season is the time of year when individuals are expected to spend time outside, participate in numerous activities, and enjoy spending time with numerous people. Psychology experts opine that individuals who lack the time, finances or desire to engage in such activities might experience increased anxiety. The social pressure some people feel to acquiesce to the preceding societal norms can worsen individual moods and precipitate feelings of inadequacy. 

The Rise In Temperature

Medical professionals suggest that warm temperatures could potentially elicit physical manifestations that resemble those experienced during incidents of anxiety or full-blown panic attacks. On hot days, individuals could be stricken with symptoms like excessive sweating, shakiness, fatigue, dizziness, nausea and heart palpitations. Though many individuals who experience these manifestations during the summer months do not actually have an anxiety disorder, the symptoms can make them feel as if they do. 

Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder

Many people are aware of the mental health malady labeled Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which causes afflicted individuals to experience periods of depression during the wintertime. However, the Reverse Seasonal Affective Disordercan impact people during the summertime and produces the same type of physical and mental manifestations. Scientists cannot pinpoint one specific cause for the Reverse SAD’s occurrence. That said, many of these medical professionals attribute the condition’s onset to the increased length of daylight during the summer months. 

Natural Bodily Reactions

While excessive heat can elicit symptoms similar to panic attacks, the weather phenomena may also precipitate common bodily reactions. Warm temperatures can also elicit health issues like dehydration and insomnia. Even in mild to moderate forms, these ailments can cause mood disturbances and add to the eventual development of anxiety. 

Seasonal Allergies

The immune systems of numerous individuals are adversely impacted by allergens like dust and pollen. In susceptible individuals, these substances (that are often at their peak during the late spring and summer months) often elicit nasal allergy symptoms like sneezing rhinitis (runny nose), wheezing, coughing and headaches. Such symptoms are quite bothersome and can significantly impact a person’s tension levels. 

This article was originally published on DaviaWard.net.