Can anxiety cause hot flashes?
Yes, anxiety can cause hot flashes: in alert mode, the same nerves that make you blush widen the blood vessels in your face, neck and chest, so warm blood rushes to the surface. These sudden waves of warmth usually pass within minutes.
Try the practice nowWhat happens under your skin
An anxiety hot flash is a sudden wave of heat in your face, neck, and chest. It can come with red skin, sweating, and a racing heart, either on its own or alongside a panic attack.
When you feel anxious, your body enters alert mode to prepare you to run from a threat. Adrenaline raises your heart rate, your face and chest flush, and you start to sweat.
Why the heat feels so intense
Alert mode is built for action, so a wave of heat and a fast heartbeat can feel overwhelming when you are sitting still.
Hot flashes from anxiety are not dangerous. Putting your attention on a pleasant or neutral physical sensation, such as cool air on your skin, is the opposite of a panic spiral.
Why flashes happen on calm days
After weeks of anxiety, your body can stop switching between rest mode and alert mode and stay in alert mode. Because your body holds that state, hot flashes can show up on days you do not feel anxious.
The same heat and fast heartbeat labeled anxiety can also be read as excitement or anticipation. This state is trainable with daily practice.
Try Cadence Breathing right now
- Sit upright, or lie on your back if that is easier, relax your jaw, and close your eyes or soften your gaze.
- Breathe in lightly through your nose for a count of 3, then hold gently for a count of 3.
- Breathe out smoothly and slowly for a count of 6 without straining, or use counts of 2, 2, and 4 if you run short of air.
- Continue at this pace for ten rounds.
When to check with a doctor
- You feel hot with chest pain, breathlessness, or feeling faint (call emergency services).
- Sudden flushing comes with hives, swollen lips or tongue, or trouble breathing (call emergency services).
- You have a fever, shivering, and feel very unwell.
- You have night sweats with weight loss or tiredness you can't explain.
- You have a racing heart at rest, weight loss, shaking, or feel hot all the time.
- Your periods have changed or stopped.
- It started with a new medicine.
Practice with the Stateshift app
Common questions
How can I help an anxiety hot flash pass?
Sipping cool water, loosening a layer of clothing, and cooling your wrists or face help a flash pass.
Why do I feel cold or shiver after an anxiety hot flash?
As the sweat from a flash dries on your skin, it draws heat away from your body, which can leave you chilly or shivering for a short time.
Are my hot flashes from anxiety or perimenopause?
Both can cause them, and anxiety can rise around perimenopause too. A doctor can help you tell them apart.