Overheating and anxiety?

[Eva_Merlot]

I'm a horrific sleeper and I'm only starting to associate it with my anxiety. However I overheat quite dramatically at night time and I am not sure if this would be caused by my anxiety or not. I get uncomfortably hot. I have been this way my entire life (no new symptoms). Does anyone else experience this? I don't sweat or anything, I just get really really hot, like my stomach is really hot to the touch. It's the opposite of what my body should be doing when I go to sleep, so it makes getting to sleep horrific.

[Paxiled]

I have to disagree with the first answer you got -- I also have suffered weird body temperature problems at bed time since getting my anxiety problem.  People suffering anxiety stimulate their adrenal glands, which can raise or lower body temperature depending on the person.  Medication for emotional problems also produces temperature problems and sweating.  Now, if you've been this way for your entire life, on the other hand, then it's not the anxiety, it's just you.  Ever try showering before going to bed?  That's what I've learned to do.  And start without a lot of covers until your body adjusts, then you can throw more on top of you.  As you can tell, I've been going through this a long time.  It's uncomfortable, but not horrific.  

[Eva_Merlot]

Thank you so much for providing a helpful answer. I've had anxiety my entire life as well, and I also have a heart problem so it will be interesting to see if the combination could cause something like this as well. I'm going to see a doctor on Monday :)

[Paxiled]

Are you on medication for your heart?  For anything?  Lots of meds cause overheating and sweating.  Many antidepressants do, for example, and my experience has been, once they do it doesn't necessarily go away when you stop the medication.

[Paxiled]

BTW, ever had your thyroid checked?

[AnxiousNoMore]

How can showering provide any temperature change that lasts more than a few minutes after you dry off? The body regulates heat and cold all day long in response to external conditions.

[AnxiousNoMore]

I Googled a bit and some sites say to take a hot shower others a cold one to beat the heat. Perhaps you can find something from a reliable medical journal and provide the link.

[Paxiled]

For me, Anxious, it's more of a quick fix -- the shower at least gets rid of the stickiness and sweat so I can fall asleep.  Once I fall asleep, the body will either cool down because it's dormant, or if on meds I might wake up drenched in sweat.  I don't know why this happens, only that it does, and a lot of people complain about it and it's a listed symptom.  The brain controls most of what happens in the body, though not all, and when it's off, your off in weird ways.  For me, the hot shower works best because when you get out the air feels cool.  When you take a cold shower, the air when you get out feels warm.

[Paxiled]

And I take a very quick shower -- a long hot shower will leave you feeling hot.  It's fun living with this stuff, eh?

[AnxiousNoMore]

Anxiety is not a thermostat, so has no effect on body heat.
Your claim of heat is either over-analyzing your body and imagining things are happening, misreading your other self diagnosed issues or just the way you are. You might be worrying and sweating more than you think, but in that case relaxing while sleeping would help

Lots of people without anxiety have sleep issues and it is a complex subject that often can't be diagnosed by anyone but a doctor.
I read a book whenever I can't sleep and my eyes get tired quickly plus the focus on the book helps relax me to go back to sleep.