Put the Chill on Heat Wave Anger

When the temperature rises, tempers flare. It doesn’t take long in 90-degree heat for small irritations to ignite into angry rants. The frequency and volume of childish squabbles escalates. Frustrated parents lose their cool and yell at their kids. Spousal bickering escalates to angry arguments. When it’s hot outside, everyone gets more than a little cranky. 

It’s hard to keep your emotional cool when your body feels like it’s frying. Sweat, dehydration and exhaustion overwhelm us physically when the mercury climbs into the high 80s and 90s. Heat can increase heart rate and elevate blood pressure. The physical toll chips away at our emotional defenses, eroding our ability to cope with life’s ordinary challenges. Fueled by the heat, people who are normally pleasant and patient can become unreasonable and irritable. They snap and they snarl at the slightest irritation, lashing out at the closest target — often a spouse or child.

Psychologists and criminal justice authorities have long known that heat waves cause a spike in crime rates. Heat tends to make people more argumentative. They’re more likely to react to irritants without thinking. Iowa State University professor of psychology Craig Anderson who has studied the phenomenon told the Selma Times-Journal online, “Being uncomfortable colors the way people see things. Minor insults may be perceived as major ones, inviting retaliation.”

When the mercury climbs, your best defense against an emotional meltdown is a good offense. Cool down your body to cool off your psyche. Here are a few tips guaranteed to dial down your discomfort level during the dog days of August and help you keep your cool in the heat:

• Turn on the air conditioning and augment airflow with fans. No A/C? Mist yourself with water and sit near a fan.
• Chill out at the local shopping mall (most have a play area), senior center, public library or take in a movie.
• Wear loose, light-weight, cotton clothing. Declare a swimsuit day at home.
• Take cool showers. Let the kids play in a cool tub.
• Spend the day at the pool or beach.
• Fill up the kiddie pool and turn on the sprinkler. Join the kids in a water fight.
• Stay hydrated and eat some salty snacks. Avoid alcohol which can increase heat stress.