Guide to heats (early signs, types of heats, how to deal with it)
contents: non-sexual heats sexual heats submissive heats dominant heats sick heats Note: these are based mostly on my and my system's experiences, though i have looked through the misce tags to see other people's experiences. you may not have all of the signs or experiences here, and thats okay. everybody is unique.
All heats: (won't reiterate these later on) Pre-heat/early signs: -more clingy, affectionate. want to spend more time than usual with loved ones/pack. (may have opposite behavior and want to stay away from others, feeling vulnerable.) -nesting/denning habits more apparent. adding more material. -more protective and possessive over your things -slightly higher body temp -Heightened instinctual desires and emotions -unexplainable random sadness (closer to heat for me) full heat: -want to spend most of the time in nest and/or den -Noticeably higher body temp than usual -muddled thoughts at times -instinct as noticeable as when in fight/flight timeline: -different for everyone. some can keep a schedule and it arrives on time, some get them sporadically or very frequently, some have long heats, some have heats that last a day. -my cycle is long pre-heat, short heat, medium-length break. (long as in a week and a half. then heat is abt 3-4 days with a week break) how to deal with: -keep water near at all times and snacks if hard to leave nest -if you have to go to work/school wear comfy clothes -air con and/or fan non-sexual heat: pre-heat: -more hungry than usual -desire to bring loved ones into nest/den and keep them there -may not experience raised body temp until full heat. may be lower than normal in fact heat: -nest makes up half of your thoughts sexual heats: pre-heat: -raised arousal (may also have raised libido) -raised body temp -lower inhibitions -slick heat: -constantly horny -weed-like effect how to deal with: -clothes that don't stain easy and are easy to take off -if you need to go to work/school make sure u can contain urself. if not, don't go. submissive heats: pre-heat: -asking for guidance/tasks more than usual -less need for control/independence -want to be taken care of heat: -hard to take care of self -hard to disobey people you trust how to deal with: -be aware of your vulnerability to being taken advantage of -ask someone you trust for help -don't go to work/school if strong heat dominant heats: pre-heat: -when helping people you are more hands on and controlling -very defensive of space -snap at small things -more moody when told what to do heat: -desire to take control over someone else -more aggressive, destructive how to deal with: -remind yourself other people aren't trying to piss you off -vent your frustration on objects, not other beings sick heats: triggered by illness, doesn't follow typical pre-heat and full heat patterns signs that you are in heat while sick: -nest/den becomes more cocoon-like -temperature fluctuates -more dehydration -sickness's symptoms different than usual in some ways how to deal with: -keep stuff for sickness near your nest/den -keep space aerated (open windows and doors often)
















