#temperature regulation

[janeacular]

People who have regular body heat don't experience cold the way we do. They apparently have this little heater inside of them that just, keeps their blood and internal organs comfy all the time. Being "cold" to them is just a chill on their skin. "If you're still cold after the first layer, put another layer on!" That doesn't work if you don't have the body heat to warm up those layers!!! it's just cold fabric on top of cold fabric on top of cold fabric on top of cold skin on top of cold fat on top of cold muscle on top of cold bones.

Then of course, even if there are FINALLY enough layers to make our skin warm. That does not mean it will make our bones warm. I could have an electronically heated blanket on me, and start sweating from it, and STILL BE COLD because it takes a lot of time for any amount of heat to pierce the surface level of my body & warm me in any ways that matter. So yeah, anytime you're interacting with somebody who doesn't have temperature regulation issues, and they offhandedly mention that they love the cold, just be aware they are never ever talking about our kind of cold. the kind that feels like an uphill battle. They're talking about something completely different and unique to them and their little internal heater. something some of us may never experience because we're always trapped in that fight with the air around us.

[warmblanketwhump]

A struggles to regulate their body temperature, maybe after a traumatic event, injury, or illness.

They used to wear trendy, well-fitted clothing—now, they wear layers of large sweaters and flannel/wool pants and wool socks around—anything to help insulate them and stay warm.

certain times of day are clockwork for spells of chills. it’s common for them to come to breakfast huddled in a blanket, and it takes them at least a half hour of clutching mug of hot tea to warm up enough to function. If they stay up too late at night, they shiver in bed for hours.

being outdoors in the fall and winter is miserable. they try to dress for the weather, but they inevitably get a chill in their bones that they can’t shake for hours even when indoors.

the others can tell when they’re cold, no matter how hard they try to hide it—shoulders drawn tight, arms hugged close, the occasional shivers that ripple down their spine.

during team meetings, A’s the only one huddled in a blanket with a hot water bottle clutched to their core, even when the room is well heated.

their hands and feet ALWAYS feel like ice.

constantly feeling chilled makes it easier for them to get sick, especially when their body is always fighting to stay at a decent temperature. when they do get sick, they’re bedridden for days under piles of blankets.

they used to not be a very tactile person, but now they’re always down for a hug or for someone to throw an arm around their shoulders, the warmth of another human providing indescribable comfort—especially after what they went through.

[autism-polls]

Poll idea submitted by Ghost on April 8, 2024

[existennialmemes]

Having POTS is like getting your autonomic nervous system from Wish. My body regulates my temperature as well as a newborn kitten.

Every single moment the AC is running, I am shivering like a wet, abandoned Chihuahua.

And the very instant the AC shuts off, I am melting like gummy bears left in the sun.

[sag-dab-sar]

Katy Perry: 🎶 You're hot then you're cold 🎶

Me: No. I'm hot AND I'm cold. Same time.

[a-totally-reasonable-username]

When i tell people that my body is really fucking bad at temperature regulation they tend to think i get cold easy or that i react strongly to cold and hot temperatures. While this is true, it's actually so much worse than that and no one that hasn't seen and felt it firsthand believes me.

I can be lying in bed, under multiple blankets and my feet will be so cold, i can't feel or move them anymore. My body's lack of temperature regulation literally paralyses me at times and everyone i tell this believes i'm exaggerating.

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Autism & Can’t Regulate Temperature?

Neurodivergent_lou

[spooniestrongart]

Winter is rough when you can't regulate your body temperature. 💙🥄

[theasylumwheretheyraisedme]

“seasonal” depression but seasons don’t exist like they used to so the “season” lasts several extra months bc of climate change and then the very short happy season is also deeply depressing because for the same reason so really it’s just year-round depression

[pileofpawns]

If anybody else struggles with the cold, I stumbled upon this thread of people being really sweet and listing off different ideas on how to warm yourself up. I found it because like the OP, I also wanted to satisfy my urge to sunbathe on giant rocks

[eggings]

heat regulation tips for the summer

- handheld fans!! i haven’t gotten an electric one to bring on the go yet, but a paper one can help a lot with cooling down quickly

- don’t have enough room in your bag to carry water and gatorade/electrolyte drinks? carry a packet of powdered electrolyte drinks

- going off of the last point, i’ve found liquid iv to be amazing for getting in electrolytes, especially if you have a dysautonomia condition. it is a bit expensive, but they have a lot of discount codes floating around.

- sportswear is great for staying cool, especially if you tend to sweat a lot or have sensory issues where you need to wear longer clothing than summer heat tends to require

- parasols can be good for blocking the sun. a lot of alternative subcultures have it as a bit of a staple, so i recommend look into gothic and lolita fashion if you want to find particularly cute ones

- for the love of god, if you drive, buy one of those front windshield sun blockers for when your car is parked. hot cars are so evil.

best, someone struggling with having pots in this heat :’)

[janeacular]

Cold is sharp stabbing needles puncturing every tiny little atom in your body & Hot is a low hum drum throb pulsating through your organs. And both get infinitely worse when you add water :)

[smoov-criminal]

temp regulation issues fuckin suck. i was freezing in my office yesterday, but sweltering today. nothing has changed about my office or really the weather, my body is just like this. i flip flop between sleeping fine and waking up in a puddle of sweat, again with no notable changes in my environment or behaviors. rip me

[lemons-bittersweet]

Ponyboys temperature would be bipolar. One second he’s cold and the next he’s sweating and it would piss Soda off when he’s trying to sleep when he’s next to someone who is cold as Antarctica and then hot as a desert 

[perplexingluciddreams]

It is rather cold in Scotland right now! In my bedroom especially, it feels like.

My whole life I have deliberately sought out the cold, to numb the constant sensory dysregulation. When my body is overwhelmed with the sensation of cold, most other body signals and senses are dulled or numbed.

Cold is also the opposite of my worst sensory trigger, heat. When my body is at a normal temperature, especially when my circulation is behaving more normally, I feel the blood flow to my hands and feet constantly and anything that increases blood flow (and therefore heat) to my extremities can cause an immediate meltdown.

This is a big part of why I struggle with footwear, and why I easily snap into an aggravated state when I am doing any physical activity, especially walking and standing which directs blood flow to my feet. This is also why I am so sensitive to pressure on my feet, more than any other part of my body - I literally feel the blood moving closer and further away from the surface of my skin as pressure is applied and relieved with each step.

It typically feels itchy and fuzzy under my skin, and when blood rushes to an area I feel the pounding of my pulse as tiny hammers under the surface. It is as if there are tiny lumps or bubbles in my blood.

This applies also to symptoms of my chronic illness that makes my body's temperature regulation all screwed up. When I do too much, my face and ears flush, which produces the same sensations, especially the burning heat that radiates from my skin.

Unfortunately, nowadays the cold is hard for my body because it takes so much energy to stay warm-ish. So whilst it numbs other irritants for a time, it can make things loop back around to the exact worst sensory sensations that I just described.

[bookofhappyescapes]

I never said that I temperature normally