Feeling of the Week: Overheated

When Summer Turns Up the Temperaturenand the Tension

Let’s be honest: summer is not always sunshine and serotonin. Sometimes, it’s sweat, snappiness, and a short fuse.

This week’s feeling is one that doesn’t just show up on your weather app, it shows up in your nervous system.

We’re talking about feeling overheated. You know the feeling, you’re doing your best, powering through work, errands, parenting, and plans, and then suddenly, it hits.Your body’s too warm. Your brain’s too loud. Everything feels just a little too much. And you find yourself muttering, “I can’t even deal right now.” That’s not weakness. That’s heat stress + life pressure combining forces, and it’s a real thing.

What’s Really Going On?

Feeling overheated isn’t just physical, it’s emotional and neurological. Here’s what the science says:

When your core body temperature rises, your brain interprets it as a threat. Your amygdala, the part of the brain that sounds the alarm, starts firing. Your prefrontal cortex, responsible for focus, patience, and decision-making, gets less glucose and starts to slow down. You feel irritable, overwhelmed, reactive, foggy, and just plain done.

And let’s not forget the added layers:

Sun glare.

Noise.

Crowds.

Deadlines.

Kids.

Group texts.

Travel plans.

You’re not just hot. You’re emotionally overheated.

The Emotional Equation

At Sprouting Change, we like to break things down into what we call emotional equations, formulas that help us understand what’s really driving our stress.

This week’s equation:

Overheated = (Heat + Sensory Overload + Emotional Load) − (Hydration + Breaks + Flexibility)

If the left side builds and the right side shrinks, you're heading straight toward amygdala hijack, that moment when your brain goes into fight-or-flight and all logic leaves the building.

How to Cope When You're Overheated

You can’t control the weather, but you can change how you cope. Here’s how to bring the equation back into balance:

1. Cool the Body to Calm the Brain

Run cold water over your hands or wrists. Hold an ice pack or cold drink. Even swishing cold water in your mouth can lower your stress response.

2. Interrupt the Overload

Try the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding exercise:

5 things you can see

4 things you can touch

3 things you can hear

2 things you can smell

1 thing you can taste

This shifts your attention from your overheating nervous system to the present moment.

3. Drink More Than You Think You Need

Hydration doesn’t just cool your body, it improves focus, mood, and mental endurance. If you’re irritable, forgetful, or fatigued, start with water. Water really is a miracle for the human body.

4. Give Yourself Permission to Adjust

Flex your schedule. Take a break. Step away. You don’t need to earn your rest, especially when your brain is under stress.

Conscious Coping in Action

Remember, this isn’t about perfection, it’s about conscious coping. Feeling overheated is your body’s way of saying, “I need support.” And when you respond with awareness and care, you’re building something powerful; Psychological Capital, your reserves of hope, optimism, resilience, and efficacy.

Try This Reframe:

Instead of:

“Ugh, I can’t handle the heat.”

Try:

“My body is asking for a break and I’m listening.”

Your Weekly Check-In

This week, ask yourself:

Have I taken a cooling break today?

Am I drinking enough water?

Can I adjust something to make today feel 1% easier?

Tiny changes can bring big relief and when the temperature rises, your coping skills can too.