Anger, irritability, sadness … What if the heat was not only a question of comfort but a real emotional disruptor? Clinical psychologist Johanna Rozenblum alerts on an insidious but real effect of extreme temperatures: their direct impact on our mental balance. And the possible consequences on the family or the couple.
Extreme heat: a risk little known for our mental health
“The heat has real consequences on our physiology, and therefore on our emotional balance”, she explains to True Medical. And it’s not just a matter of perception.
When the thermometer climbs beyond our comfort zone-between 22 and 24 ° C, ideal temperature to maintain homeostasis, this delicate internal balance between biological functions and psychic condition-the body enters alert mode. “”The temperature is perceived as an assault. Result: he secretes from cortisolthe stress hormone, and mobilizes energy to try to thermoregueand leaves aside the management of emotions “. Result : “We become more psychologically vulnerable. “
More intra -family violence: when the heat makes us see red
But the consequences go further than the simple feeling of being “at CRAN” underlines the “expert. The heat also disturbs certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, nicknamed” the hormone of happiness “.”Its malfunction can generate Anxious or depressive symptomswithout anyone always understanding why “.
Scientific data confirm these clinical observations. An American meta-analysis, bringing together sixty studies, shows a clear correlation between rising temperatures and increases in irritability, impulsiveness and anger access. “In France, during heat waves, we observe a 4.7 % increase in intra -family violenceincluding sexist, sexual and children’s violence ” warns the psychologist.
“The impact of temperature on our behavior and our mental health is very real. We must also be able to take it into account,” she insists.
A real public health issue that emerges
While the scorching episodes intensify under the effect of climate change, this psychic data is still too little taken into account. However, it is not simply a summer inconvenience: our emotional reactions, our relationships and sometimes even our security can be affected.
In Spain, another country struck by heat waves, the case was taken seriously in 2024, Spain recorded 19 women during the summer, more than half of the 35 women reported during the year. The Ministry of the Interior has recognized a correlation between periods of strong heat and peaks of violence. The government has therefore planned to integrate into its national plan against extreme temperatures 2025 of the actions coordinated with social services and emergency systems. An initiative that other countries should be inspired …