By Kelly Carrington, GAWD
A Very British Guide to Summer Panic (with a teeny bit of science.)
I love the way we brace for summer in the Northern Hemisphere. As soon as the forecast hints at anything above 15°C, we simultaneously rejoice and panic. The nation breaks into a collective sweat, a combination of the impending (potential) heat and some good old anxiety. About whether we’re prepared, physically and metaphorically for this change of seasons.
Summer is the season we desperately want and actively fear. Social media is ablaze with hints and tips about how to get ahead, buy all the paraphernalia needed, and find your place in the sun. I want to crack the surface and explore the shade to this seasonal sun-based fear. If you are anything like me, I find it hard to access my sunny disposition, even when there’s a huge burning fireball lighting up the sky.
Summer Anxiety – it’s a real thing
Summer can bring on anxiety for a mix of reasons. The heat can mess with your body and sleep, and changes to your usual routine or pressure, to be more social, and so on, can add to the stress. Hot weather can even cause physical sensations that feel like panic attacks, making anxiety worse. On top of that, changes in hormones like melatonin and cortisol, plus poor sleep, can leave you feeling on edge, tired, or irritable.
Great Balls of Fire
It’s a giant ball of nuclear fusion, most of the year, we treat it like a mythological entity that is spoken of, but rarely seen. But come June, it starts showing up like a devoted shopper at a Next sale; early, intense, and pushing the concept of personal boundaries.
Photosynthesis may be great for plants, but for humans? Not so much. Our vitamin D-starved epidermises simply aren’t used to prolonged sun exposure. One moment, you’re basking in the golden rays, the next, you’re a walking bacon rasher with sunglasses.
Slap it On
Best slap on the SPF 50 sun cream. Suncream anxiety. How much is enough? No one actually knows what’s enough to keep you protected, so if you’re anything like me I apply liberally every 2 hours. Comparable to spreading butter on a balloon, it can sometimes look a bit patchy. Like I’m ready for Halloween early. Can’t be too careful though, right?
Not like the old days, SPF was not really a thing. I remember one family holiday on the sunny shores of the Costa Brava. My mum and nan made sure us young kids were protected, head to toe in suncream. They however, wanted to work on their tans, to go from British blue to bronzed beauties. All was going well until nan fell asleep on the balcony with only her tanning oil as a barrier. She’d been lying face down on the lounger; needless to say, she found it difficult to sit in the dining hall that evening. The derriere region was so burnt it was purple… a lesson to us all.
We’re all Sweating Now
Humans have 2 to 4 million sweat glands, all apparently determined to make their presence known during the morning commute or school run. There is no dignity in arriving at work or the school gates looking like you’ve just emerged from a sauna sponsored by Southwest Rail. Sweat patches anyone?
Come to think of it, it’s hard to know how to dress full stop in the summer. It takes guts and preparation to be able to wear summer outfits. My legs are so pale they could cause a reflection that would be picked up in space by satellite images. Swimwear ready? Don’t even go there.
Social Butterflies or Shrinking Violets?
There’s a seasonal social pressure I find daunting and anxiety inducing. That vibe that it’s always ‘cocktail o’clock’ somewhere in the world. Yes, social media is a blaze with people rushing to post their sunny pics demonstrating how much fun they’re having. I believe it all stems from a pressure to ‘make the most of it in the UK’. You never know when the weather could turn.
It is important to remember that we only see a snapshot of a person’s experience on social media. I’ll wager that behind the perfect pic people are googling how to deal with multiple mosquito bites, sunburn, and sunstroke.
Climate Change
Unless you are visiting from another planet, it is hard not to acknowledge the facts that over the years our climate has changed. Temperatures are increasing. The science adds to the levels of summer anxiety with its reports of “record-breaking temperatures”. Every year, the Met Office speaks in tones previously reserved for incoming asteroids. You want to enjoy the weather, but now you’re just waiting for the next bulletin about melting tarmac, or an increase in temperature-related deaths.
And yet, amid the anxiety, there’s a strange sort of hope. A belief that this summer might finally be the one we handle like emotionally stable, hydrated adults. But before you press ‘purchase’ to buy the last of the column fans, paddling and ice plunge pools. Just think about whether you truly need them. As inevitably, the minute they are delivered, the temperature will drop and the heavens will open.
My Summer Takeaways to help Cool Summer Anxiety –
● Take the steps needed to get a good sleep. For example, drinking lots of water, (not so close to bedtime, unless you want to be up all night on the loo.) take a cool shower, get a good fan (I like the silent ones), and set a bedtime routine.
● Be kind to the body you’re in. Wear what feels good for you. And steer clear of body-shaming social media sites.
● Remember you’re not solely responsible for climate change, nor can you solve it alone. Do your research and change the things you can control to make a difference. Like using a reusable water-bottle.
● Don’t succumb to the pressure to be a summer social butterfly. Set boundaries and say “no” if you’re on burnout.
The Perfect Summer?
I’m not a fan of the statement ‘the perfect summer’ after all, is there such a thing? You don’t have to love every part of summer. Make summer work for you. I’m off for an alfresco foot soak and an orange Calippo. Leading by example.
