The Heatwave is Melting My Brain (And My ADHD)

The UK is melting—and so is my executive function.

If you’re neurodivergent, you probably already know that extreme weather doesn’t just mean “a bit uncomfortable.” It means everything gets harder: decision-making, mood regulation, hydration, sleep, motivation, self-care... even just existing.

For me? Summer doesn’t spark joy (I love the idea of it, don't get me wrong). It sparks sensory overload, dehydration, low energy, low mood, and serious ADHD Management struggles.

Summer: Not My Season

I’m not someone who gets hit hard by S.A.D in winter. I love the cold. I thrive in jumpers, cold breezes, crisp mornings, and layered clothing - not to mention SPOOKY SEASON! But summer? Summer fries my brain.

Here’s how it hits:

• I can’t cool down. There’s no relief. No breeze. Just heat sticking to everything—my skin, my brain, my thoughts.

• Sweating makes me squirm. The sticky, damp feeling triggers full-body sensory rejection. Clothes feel wrong. Skin feels trapped. I want to unzip myself. (plus my meds make it worse as I sweat more)

• Sleep? Not happening. I toss, turn, and overheat until my body gives up entirely. I wake up exhausted, irritable, and foggy. That sleep deficit stacks up fast = Hello Energy Overdraft, I am very much in debt!

• My ADHD traits get more challenging. Focus tanks. Motivation vanishes. I can’t even choose what to wear—because nothing feels right and everything feels sweaty. I am constantly overstimulated and Overwhelmed!

Let’s Talk Hydration (Or Lack of...)

I know hydration helps. I know my ADHD meds make dehydration worse. And yet… I struggle so much to drink enough.

Drinking water is boring. It’s easy to forget. It’s not “urgent” until the headache hits and I’m dizzy, cranky, and curled up with Sooty, wondering why I feel AWFUL.

I crave cold. I need ice, and flavour. But making that happen takes effort I don’t always have. (I really want one of those instant Ice cube makers on the fridge with Ice cold water too!)

Hydrating when you’re neurodivergent is not a simple task—it’s a full-body executive dysfunction event for me. I don't know if this is preference, but for me plain water tastes disgusting! If its not Ice cold it makes me physically struggle to drink it! I've been like this since I was young!

Dressing for the Heat? Ugh.

There’s something else that summer messes with: comfort and confidence.

I don’t feel comfortable in summer clothes. I am a plus size girlie and I don’t feel like myself. My body feels more “on show,” and I don’t love it. I want to be wrapped up, wearing layers, comfy, cool—not exposed and constantly adjusting straps or sweating through fabric.

And putting my hair up? That sounds easy. But with thick, long lion hair, alongside TMJ and cranial tension issues, having my hair tied for long periods hurts. I need regular cranial work and gentle care for chronic stress and pain. Which means wearing my hair down, even when it’s hot, and yes—it’s as uncomfortable as it sounds. 

It Impacts My Work (and My Sanity)

Running a business with ADHD in a heatwave is like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube in a sauna while someone yells your to-do list at you. Everything takes longer. My energy vanishes by midday. I resent the sun for existing.

Even Sooty struggles. She’s small, but the heat knocks her out too. She wants cuddles but is clingy and unsettled. We’re both tired. We’re both irritable. We’re both looking at the fan like it’s a life-saving miracle. She's also very fluffy so she suffers too!

But I’m Managing—Kind Of

I’m not writing this from a meltdown (today). I’m writing this from the middle of it. Managing it. Surviving it.

Here’s what’s helping, even a little:

• ✨ A big reusable water bottle with ice and a straw (hydration + sensory = better) - I have a Stanley Cup (Sooty Striped in colour too! extra dopamine!)

• 🧠 Lowering the bar: doing less, expecting less, forgiving myself more

• ❄️ Cold compresses on my neck and wrists

• 🌬 Fans. Multiple. Positioned like tactical weather control. I have a fantastic portable water misting fan which is great to take with me room to room - especially as my bathroom has no windows or breeze, so it keeps me cool when doing my teeth/after a shower etc.

• 🧵 Light tasks. Creative work. Low-pressure admin. No deep focus.

• 💬 Talking about it. Letting people know why I’m not “on point” right now.

• Hydrate with food/fun drinks/make your own ice lollies! Watermelon, cucumber, smoothies etc. are all good alternatives!
  

Because when you’re neurodivergent, the weather isn’t just weather—it’s another variable your nervous system has to process.

And if you’re struggling in the heat, it’s not because you’re lazy, dramatic, or “not coping.” It’s because your brain and body are working overtime—and that deserves compassion, not shame.

Be Kind to yourself and give yourself grace!