Anxiety upon Awakening

[Tuneuronerd95746 2]

Hey all,

Hope everyone has had a good holiday week. I just had a sort of generic question:

Has anyone experienced intense anxiety upon awakening?

I know that sounds ridiculous, particularly considering its before I really engage in any cognitive activity. I just wake up and boom, it's there and it's heavy. Somatically it feels like a pit in my stomach. It consistently dissipates after a few hours or when I finally convince myself to take my medication (Ativan).

Any ideas on how to handle this frustrating pattern of anxiety?

thanks for any feedback in advance.

Brad

[Bterflymom 155]

Most of us feel anxiety when we wake up, I do and I have a friend that also has it even worse than I do.  As the day goes along the anxiety lessens for some reason but mornings are the worst time for me.  I don't know why that is, it just is, you're not alone.  Wishing you a better 2017

[Tuneuronerd95746 2]

Hey Bterflymom, 

Thanks for the feedback. Wishing you a better 2017 as well. I appreciate the kind words.

I just wish I could understand why the mornings are so awful. Morning and night are both rough, and I just get this high level of pressure mentally and in my stomach. Ugh.

Hope things get better for you too!

[jonathan123 2363]

Hi there Tune.

Yes, mornings can be hell in anxiety. I have the same problem and I think most people with anxiety do. But So do those without anxiety. Mornings is a low point and there is a reason Metabolism!! That's the rate our body converts and uses energy. It varies from person to person. Some feel good in the evenings, but the mornings can be bad for others. We go to bed perhaps feeling better only to wake up feeling rotten.

When we wake up our energies, the metabolism, are at their lowest. Now so called' normal' person accepts that and, after  a while, begins to pick up, but with anxiety we get worried about it and off we go. The old cycle of feeling down/fear/anxiety.............!!  And the more it bugs us the worse we get because it upsets the normal rhythm of recovery from sleep. As we get moving it usually passes so don't let it make you go back to bed. Worse thing possible. Keep moving as much as you can. As you improve it does pass.

[Tuneuronerd95746 2]

Hey jonathan,

Thanks for the positive support and analysis. I am incredibly grateful for your time in writing that. I agree, naturally our bodies are low in temperature and metabolic activity. It makes sense that upon awakening our bodies are still readying themselves for action- moving from pure reliance on the parasympathetic to more so with the sympathetic nervous system.

It's frustrating simply because it starts without any provocation. Nasty little bits of panic and stomach pains. Of course it fades eventually to more tolerable levels, but man what a bummer to start every day this way.

Brad

[TheTick123 2]

I am suffering from thid a great deal at the moment. 

[Bterflymom 155]

Most of us feel anxiety when we wake up, I do and I have a friend that also has it even worse than I do.  As the day goes along the anxiety lessens for some reason but mornings are the worst time for me.  I don't know why that is, it just is, you're not alone.  Wishing you a better 2017  I feel my anxiety in my stomach too, not sure why.  Just know you're not alone, thousands and maybe millions of people have anxiety.  Knowing that doesn't really help us personally I don't think but at least I know I'm not alone with this. 

[Theo 2]

Mornings and middle of the night are the worst times for me as well. Think this is pretty common.

It'd always a struggle for me to get moving in the morning when I'm in a bout of anxiety, but every time I get up and going it always seems to ease up. 

[Bterflymom 155]

I sleep well all night but do have morning anxiety every day. I find myself bored but not motivated to do much of anything either. I'm a people person but am retired and don't have much family around. It's winter here so I'm indoors a lot, hate the cold. I have two lunches a month with friends and I look forward to those outings. I must say that everyone I know who. Has anxiety has it in the morning too. I wish someone would explain that to me. 

[TheTick123 2]

Mornings I feel s*****al

[Bterflymom 155]

I hear you!!!

[Henry245 0]

I am suffering from anxiety prior to a dental visit.

[Bterflymom 155]

I hear you!!!  I think most people feel the same way.  Sort of fear of the unknown, what is he going to find etc.  I don't like going to the dentist either but once there I calm down a bit. Epinephran makes the heart pump faster and that's what's in novacain which I can't spell either.  I tell me dentist no epinephren so he uses something else to deaden the feeling.  Good luck, you'll be fine

[Pistol Star 18]

I have the same symptoms aswell, I wake up several times per night and feel the 'pit in the stomach' you are describing. It is really starting to bother me because it seems I never have a refreshing night sleep. I have a lot of dreams too, not nightmares but not pleasant dreams either. If someone have any tips, I'm listening.

 

thanks

[rainbow 333]

Pistol do you try to listen to some relaxation music or meditations before you sleep. That may help quiet the mind while trying to fall asleep.  

[Pistol Star 18]

Hi Rainbow,

I've tried it before but I will give it another try. I'm open to suggestions if you know some good artists.

[Platy 5]

this thread's a little old but if anyone's still around, i really like the free Insight Timer app for android and iphone. it's got a timer for doing timed meditations, but what's great for sleep is there's a number of sleep meditations, guided meditations, guided relaxations, relaxation music and other bits that are terrific for helping you fall asleep. i often wake up in the middle of the night w/ anxiety and this app helps me fall back to sleep. 

[MSTI 2]

Indeed. I do not have any physical issues but rather racing thoughts, and high levels of anxiety.

[Pistol Star 18]

I have read in many places that it can be  related to cortisol, is there a way to lower the level of this hormone?

[Bterflymom 155]

I know nothing about this, sorry.  If you find out anything about it let us know.  I also have anxiety

[Ihadcancer 318]

I have what I perceive as nightmares and wake shaking but when I recall the dream, it might be that I left my car keys in the car when I got home from the store.  It's virtually never a true nightmare but mundane things that shouldn't bother me!  Now closer to medical tests time, I'll dream about being sick or someone in my family being sick, but that's not often.

What I've started doing is as soon as I wake even just because hubby is up getting ready for work, I take my morning anxiety pill, turn on the TV with no sound to something I've recorded and watched 100 times, like Flea Market Flip, and go back to sleep until the dogs want to get up around 7:45. By then the medication has eased the morning anxiety and I can wake feeling refreshed.  I'm really a good sleeper most of the time and don't understand the early a.m. anxiety. 

Now Bterflymom (GREAT PHOTO! Is that your son?)   hit on something that I'm suffering with right now and for about the last 9 months or so.  I used to get up, get going, keep my house spotless, clothes washed and folded and fought back the dust (red Georgia clay that seeps in thru closed windows) but something happened and I don't know what...  but now I really don't get much done at all.  Mentally, I'm in a much better place because of going to the gym with Silver Sneakers and spending 7 hours during the week with people around my age working out, wearing fun and colorful outfits, laughing and joking but when I come home, I eat a lunch of usually 1% cottage cheese and fruit and then nap. Then I wait for hubby to come home.  He works 1 hour each way from home and coaches 2 sports so many nights, especially if he's had JV and Varsity basketball games or away Track meets, he doesn't get home until past his bedtime. I'm thinking my mind figures 'Why bother? No one is home to see that you didn't make the bed today!'  Whatever the cause, now I feel overwhelmed like if I scrubbed all day everyday, I'd never get it all done.  I get up with good intentions. 

 

[Bterflymom 155]

Yes, that is a photo of me and my son.  You and I do similar things or should we say we don't do certain things anymore.  I have someone clean my house once every 4 weeks so I figure why clean and I rarely make my bed anymore.  We should be going to Silver Sneakers too, it would be good for both of us but we just never get there.  I take my anxiety pill early too and sometimes go back to bed as well but I can't sleep late anymore.  I too get up with good intentions but never really get moving and I'm bored to death.  My anxiety has been terrible the past few weeks and my psychiatrist raised my medication two months ago but I've stayed below what he allows me. Right now I'm back on zyprexa every other night too and that helps with morning anxiety but also gives me some weird dreams.  At my age I should be enjoying the golden years but I'm not really happy right now.  I see a therapist every Monday and we had a great session this week, really helped me a lot.  I hope eventually I will be myself again and have the will and the energy to do things around here and get involved with people more.  Nice talking to you.