Extreme Heat is Making Us Cranky

If the excessive heat is making you moody, you are not alone. Turns out, we react to temperature changes physically AND emotionally thanks to the nervous system.

“As temperatures rise, we can become more emotional and angrier,” clinical psychologist Joshua Klapow, PhD said to SELF. But only as we move from relative comfort to relative discomfort. As we become more physically uncomfortable, our ability to manage our emotions is diminished.”

Citing factors such as adrenaline release, Klapow added, “So, the hotter our bodies get, we lose our ability to manage impulses associated with that discomfort.

We become more impulsive emotionally because we are focused on regulating our bodies.”

When the temps crank, we get cranky. Why? Thanks @SELFmagazine for letting me discuss.https://t.co/YnFC8Gej6F pic.twitter.com/UYIq6SiLE1

— Dr. Joshua C. Klapow (@drjoshk) July 26, 2022