Heatwave Anxiety Can Make You Feel: How to Cope with Rising Temperatures

Constantvpn.com – Heatwave anxiety can make you feel incredibly helpless, according to parents across England who are struggling with the psychological toll of record-breaking heat. As temperatures soar during what has been described as the hottest June on record, many families report feeling overwhelmed by fears for their children’s wellbeing. This emotional response goes well beyond ordinary discomfort, creating a sense of vulnerability that persists throughout the hottest days.

Real Stories from Affected Families

Tavia Watts, a 36-year-old mother from Cheltenham, found herself in a constant state of worry when bedroom temperatures climbed above 30 degrees Celsius. With her two-year-old and five-year-old sleeping in the same room, she described feeling as though “the world is literally ending.” The anxiety became so intense that she had to leave bedtime routines to calm herself down, fearing for her children’s safety in the sweltering conditions.

“During the heatwave, I’ve got a high level of anxiety all the time and I’m pretty much useless,” she explained to the BBC. “I’ve had to leave bedtime when my husband reads [my kids] stories to have a little cry and to calm down, because it’s just too hot in their room and I’m afraid for them.”

Watts shared her experience on Instagram, where her video received more than 18,000 likes and 1,700 reposts. Her message resonated with many parents who understood the terror of watching their children suffer through extreme heat while feeling powerless to help. This connection helped her realize she was not alone in her struggles.

Understanding the Mental Health Impact

Research from the University of Bath in 2022 found that approximately 4.6% of the UK population experiences climate anxiety—a condition now formally recognized by professional bodies and the National Health Service. Heatwave anxiety can make you feel trapped, with many people reporting difficulty sleeping, eating, and concentrating during periods of extreme weather.

A 2025 study highlighted that young people and women are particularly vulnerable to this condition. Psychologists Dr Caroline Hickman from the University of Bath and Dr Emma Lawrance from the University of Oxford have identified “anticipatory anxiety” as a key factor during heatwave periods. This type of worry stems from past traumatic experiences with extreme weather.

“Once people have been through a traumatic event like a flood or a heatwave, they anticipate the next one,” Hickman explained. “In the UK, now we’re getting the repeat, repeat, repeat [heatwaves]. It triggers that sense that ‘I can’t be safe in the world, and the world can’t be trusted,'”

The emotional responses have been remarkably severe. Hickman reported receiving calls from individuals contemplating suicide, others considering terminating pregnancies, and many wanting to sell their homes and relocate to cooler regions entirely.

Taking Constructive Action

For Watts, the viral nature of her video opened new possibilities for helping others cope. She identified two potential responses to climate anxiety: succumbing to “doomism” and questioning the point of effort, or taking constructive action. Heatwave anxiety can make you feel paralyzed, but many people are finding ways to channel their concerns into meaningful change.

“It can go one of two ways. You can either just fall into doomism and think, ‘What is the point?'” she said. “Or you can try to do something. I sign petitions during a heatwave; I organise climate community events; I run a free children’s clothes swap shop. During the last heatwave, I finally became vegetarian, because then I can tell my kids at least I tried.”

Looking Toward the Future

Lizzie Ellen, a 38-year-old mother from west London, experienced similar feelings of isolation. Having first learned about climate change in school when it seemed distant, recent weeks have left her obsessively monitoring weather forecasts. Since giving birth to her first child a few months ago, she has found herself increasingly confined indoors to keep her baby cool.

“Then there’s the future, which is really scary to be honest – thinking about how the heat we experienced back in June could become a daily reality within a very short time, [my baby’s] lifetime… and that’s pretty miserable, staying indoors all day in the dark,” Ellen shared.

Some individuals have responded with significant lifestyle changes. Dr Francis Windram, an ecologist, relocated from Ascot near London to Lancaster in north-west England specifically to benefit from cooler temperatures. Despite the move, he remains concerned for his family members living further south in Hertfordshire, particularly as temperatures in homes not designed for extreme heat continue to climb above 35 degrees Celsius.