Anxiety advice
Discussion
I really, really struggle with the hot weather every year, and a lot of it is mental and in ones head, it really gets me down and gets me into a sort of anxious state. Of course nobody likes being too hot, but my tolerance for it is very low for some reason.
I work in a truly awful workplace that has no respite, this makes things tougher obviously, I do what I can with fans etc, but it has been 30 + every day this week and I do get stressed by it. Home is OK, I have portable air con, but I just do nothing and feel like a prisoner in the room it is in, it's crazy really.
I am a very pessimistic person which doesn't help in this situation, and I wondered if anyone else has experienced this and found a way or can suggest a way to seek some kind of advice, treatment or something.
As it sort of takes over my life this time of year and it's horrible.
I wish I could enjoy hot weather, embrace it more, but I genuinely dread and almost fear it as I know what it means.
And its only going to get worse.
Thanks
I work in a truly awful workplace that has no respite, this makes things tougher obviously, I do what I can with fans etc, but it has been 30 + every day this week and I do get stressed by it. Home is OK, I have portable air con, but I just do nothing and feel like a prisoner in the room it is in, it's crazy really.
I am a very pessimistic person which doesn't help in this situation, and I wondered if anyone else has experienced this and found a way or can suggest a way to seek some kind of advice, treatment or something.
As it sort of takes over my life this time of year and it's horrible.
I wish I could enjoy hot weather, embrace it more, but I genuinely dread and almost fear it as I know what it means.
And its only going to get worse.
Thanks
I'd also suggest speaking to your employer as I'm not clear from your post if it's the job that makes it difficult i.e. you're working in a naturally hot environment that can't easily be dealt with or if there are some fairly cheap adjustments that could be made i.e. your employer provides air conditioning in your office.
Thankyou
Its a metal box and truly awful in the heat, there is a paint oven on the shop floor and all products are air cooled in that space there is a broken extractor in the roof, so no heat extraction. All I can fo is use fans.
That is tough, and just forces a dread into your psyche.
But mentally I hate this feeling, you know it's coming, you dread it, it rules your life for 2 months, no way to live.
Am not a great believer in positive thinking, sceptical, but I do know this is not healthy or a good way to be. It's weather, I can't control it, but I would like yo be less anxious and stressed about it as it is becoming a problem.
Its a metal box and truly awful in the heat, there is a paint oven on the shop floor and all products are air cooled in that space there is a broken extractor in the roof, so no heat extraction. All I can fo is use fans.
That is tough, and just forces a dread into your psyche.
But mentally I hate this feeling, you know it's coming, you dread it, it rules your life for 2 months, no way to live.
Am not a great believer in positive thinking, sceptical, but I do know this is not healthy or a good way to be. It's weather, I can't control it, but I would like yo be less anxious and stressed about it as it is becoming a problem.
It can be helpful to put life’s worries into one of two boxes - things in your control which you can do something about and things to accept because they’re beyond your control.
Know that you’ve managed heatwaves before. You’ll manage any future heatwaves again. They are uncomfortable and that’s ok. Once you accept the heat then you can let your mind drift onto something happier.
Know that you’ve managed heatwaves before. You’ll manage any future heatwaves again. They are uncomfortable and that’s ok. Once you accept the heat then you can let your mind drift onto something happier.
They honestly do not really give a toss, management and lower management do very little. it is not their building and they will NEVER spend tens of thousands installing anything to fix, it, they just buy fans and tell us to go into cooler rooms if you get hot, and not put any real pressure on us, but it is physical work, and a fan does nothing when it is blowing 31 degree air about, there is no legal thing we can use, it is just what industrial units are built like, they are built cheap and basic.
It is not easy to just quit and do something else is it at 54.
I do tell myself there is nothing I can do about it, but that does not stop the anxiety and depression sinking in when you know it is coming, I would love to not feel that or to just be blase about it, but it does sort of overcome my life.
Home is dealable, but still a bit depressing when you are confined to the room with the portable air con in it for days on end, I just wish I was not so sensitive to the heat, and could develop a better mental approach to it, as it is starting to be a real drain on my life in summer.
And it is only going to get worse.
I am sure some people get it in winter time too.
It is not easy to just quit and do something else is it at 54.
I do tell myself there is nothing I can do about it, but that does not stop the anxiety and depression sinking in when you know it is coming, I would love to not feel that or to just be blase about it, but it does sort of overcome my life.
Home is dealable, but still a bit depressing when you are confined to the room with the portable air con in it for days on end, I just wish I was not so sensitive to the heat, and could develop a better mental approach to it, as it is starting to be a real drain on my life in summer.
And it is only going to get worse.
I am sure some people get it in winter time too.
Sorry, no 'psychological' advice other than that already given in terms of consulting a medical professional, but from a practical perspective, would some sort of cooling vest help at all (assuming you'd be allowed to wear one)? I have no experience of them, but they appear to be available.
I already have a unit in the bedroom, it does work and it does help, but it is quite noisy. It sort of pulses, then slows depending on how low you set it.
I have not tried to keep it on all night as a result, and usually just place a fan that just takes the edge off.
But the problem here is as others have mentioned, is finding a way to mentally deal with something I can not fix, it is mainly the work situation, and the knowledge that it's awful and the knowledge you know more heatwaves are coming, it's just a basic anxiety issue and I need to find a way of dealing with it better mentally,
Work can't do much, I could possibly work in a cooler room,but I also don't want to make an example of myself. Silly really
I have not tried to keep it on all night as a result, and usually just place a fan that just takes the edge off.
But the problem here is as others have mentioned, is finding a way to mentally deal with something I can not fix, it is mainly the work situation, and the knowledge that it's awful and the knowledge you know more heatwaves are coming, it's just a basic anxiety issue and I need to find a way of dealing with it better mentally,
Work can't do much, I could possibly work in a cooler room,but I also don't want to make an example of myself. Silly really
After graduation I spent a year running a factory floor that had a large humpback powder coating oven. I know exactly the kind of heat and discomfort you mean, it's grim.
Make sure you're hydrated enough while you're there. I strong armed the bosses into putting a plumbed in water cooler on the factory floor which helped a lot. Dehydration can cause all sort of mental health stresses and problems.
You don't say what your role is, or if you have a supervisory position. Regardless, carry out a risk assessment of the heat and working in that environment; if your assessment comes up with a number of risks (heat exhaustion, risk to others while operating machinery etc) then approach HSE confidentially and let them know your concerns. More than your short term anxiety, it sounds like there could be some serious problems at play there, especially given the dismissive issues of management that you've said exist. PUWER suggests that there should be heat insulation, heat shields etc; are these in place?
Look for a Union to join. They have very big sticks and can effect all sorts of changes in a workplace compared to someone on the shop floor trying to speak up.
Finally, it doesn't sound like you particularly enjoy your job at this place or the dismissive attitude of management. Refresh your CV and quietly start looking for another job that would benefit you and your health more. Anxiety is a gateway to depression, one of the most lethal health conditions in this country. Put yourself and your health first....something I wish I'd done years ago.
Make sure you're hydrated enough while you're there. I strong armed the bosses into putting a plumbed in water cooler on the factory floor which helped a lot. Dehydration can cause all sort of mental health stresses and problems.
You don't say what your role is, or if you have a supervisory position. Regardless, carry out a risk assessment of the heat and working in that environment; if your assessment comes up with a number of risks (heat exhaustion, risk to others while operating machinery etc) then approach HSE confidentially and let them know your concerns. More than your short term anxiety, it sounds like there could be some serious problems at play there, especially given the dismissive issues of management that you've said exist. PUWER suggests that there should be heat insulation, heat shields etc; are these in place?
Look for a Union to join. They have very big sticks and can effect all sorts of changes in a workplace compared to someone on the shop floor trying to speak up.
Finally, it doesn't sound like you particularly enjoy your job at this place or the dismissive attitude of management. Refresh your CV and quietly start looking for another job that would benefit you and your health more. Anxiety is a gateway to depression, one of the most lethal health conditions in this country. Put yourself and your health first....something I wish I'd done years ago.
Thanks man
The environment basically is a basic production shop floor, storage shelves, flow lines for quite large mechanical products, I build the electronics that go into these products, I have an area of my own that I sort of look after, on the floor here also is a grit blaster, a small paint cabinet for wet and powder and an oven, the products are wheeled out of the oven and left on the shop floor to cool, they are metal, so basically radiate. Just a basic small warehouse, high ceiling, brick foundations and lower and then metal sides and roof, so a tin box.
There are two large bay doors, and two small normal doors, and a switched off extractor fan in the ceiling, so all the heat has nowhere to escape, and like a panel heater just stays in the room.
Shop floor temp on Friday was 31 degrees at 12 noon, would have been 34 by afternoon. We have fans, and a canteen with air-conditioning.
They have done as much as they easily can with earlier starts and finishes more breaks,but anything else would cost big money, I don't know what other cooling alternatives there are for a large warehouse style building.
As you probably know most industrial units are like this, there is no real thought to cooling. I am 54 so cannot easily switch to a role with similar income tgat might be more suitable, most places that do this kind of work are similar, not all, but most
The environment basically is a basic production shop floor, storage shelves, flow lines for quite large mechanical products, I build the electronics that go into these products, I have an area of my own that I sort of look after, on the floor here also is a grit blaster, a small paint cabinet for wet and powder and an oven, the products are wheeled out of the oven and left on the shop floor to cool, they are metal, so basically radiate. Just a basic small warehouse, high ceiling, brick foundations and lower and then metal sides and roof, so a tin box.
There are two large bay doors, and two small normal doors, and a switched off extractor fan in the ceiling, so all the heat has nowhere to escape, and like a panel heater just stays in the room.
Shop floor temp on Friday was 31 degrees at 12 noon, would have been 34 by afternoon. We have fans, and a canteen with air-conditioning.
They have done as much as they easily can with earlier starts and finishes more breaks,but anything else would cost big money, I don't know what other cooling alternatives there are for a large warehouse style building.
As you probably know most industrial units are like this, there is no real thought to cooling. I am 54 so cannot easily switch to a role with similar income tgat might be more suitable, most places that do this kind of work are similar, not all, but most
bergclimber34 said:
As you probably know most industrial units are like this, there is no real thought to cooling.
I feel you OP. I worked in a long rectangular unit that had just one shutter door at one end and a man sized fire exit in the middle.. No vents or fans at all. The painter said the paint oven was showing 48degreed before it was even turned on. Boss couldn't give a s
t.It is not as hot as that, if it were I would have quit. That is inhumane.
The sad part is they know there are issues and do nothing, there is an extractor fan in the roof that doesn't work that might help drag some air out of the building at least, I pointed out today twice to a supervisor and they just listen then do nothing, it is so poor. General manager was told about my issues on Monday, nothing.
Also as I mentioned it is starting to really affect things like anxiety and stress, I hate being this guy, but it really is affecting things like mood, sleep, just the expectation of it being perhaps even bloody hotter next week I have tried to book and self refer for talk sessions to try see if I can deal with it better, what a joke, date for ASSESSMENT is late August, total waste of time
I get only stat sick pay aswell so would likely have to book holiday to not be there.
The sad part is they know there are issues and do nothing, there is an extractor fan in the roof that doesn't work that might help drag some air out of the building at least, I pointed out today twice to a supervisor and they just listen then do nothing, it is so poor. General manager was told about my issues on Monday, nothing.
Also as I mentioned it is starting to really affect things like anxiety and stress, I hate being this guy, but it really is affecting things like mood, sleep, just the expectation of it being perhaps even bloody hotter next week I have tried to book and self refer for talk sessions to try see if I can deal with it better, what a joke, date for ASSESSMENT is late August, total waste of time
I get only stat sick pay aswell so would likely have to book holiday to not be there.
I do hear you - whilst no-where near as anxious as you in hotter weather I would spend all day worrying about how I am going to cool the bedrooms down, how will I get the children to sleep etc - I have recently obtained a portable AC unit and it really helps - I can go about the day and not worry about cooling the bedrooms down.
I am fully aware they are not cheap, but have you considered fitted house AC? - whilst not cheap it will open up the whole house as a comfortable area, will keep the house at a flat temperature, be a lot quieter etc. Yes, this does not help at work, but in the back of your mind you know you can go home at the end of the day and be in a cool welcoming environment.
I am fully aware they are not cheap, but have you considered fitted house AC? - whilst not cheap it will open up the whole house as a comfortable area, will keep the house at a flat temperature, be a lot quieter etc. Yes, this does not help at work, but in the back of your mind you know you can go home at the end of the day and be in a cool welcoming environment.
I rent currently but moving to my own place soon, is shared ownership though so not sure about fitting AC, but I will certainly be looking at it for sure, looks fairly cheap considering the relief it gives someone like me.
AS an update mentally, my earliest appt with the NHS is late August, so knocked it on the head.
AS an update mentally, my earliest appt with the NHS is late August, so knocked it on the head.
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