Waking up anxious...?!
Question: Help!! I am going through an extremely stressful patch at the moment,so I am trying to help myself by avoiding caffeine, alcohol as I know it increases anxiety feelings for me. My problems are the mornings - I wake up feeling really anxious, and unable to get moving from my bed. It takes me 2-3 hours to calm down to the point that I can get on with my day. I used to suffer from panic attacks several years ago, and had one about 4 weeks ago (dreading having another one!). I try relaxing at night before I go to bed - any ideas what I can do to help myself in the mornings?? I think I must be sleeping badly, as I am shattered during the next day, and always wake thinking about the issues that are stressing me out. I don't want to have to go to the GP - only as a last resort. I haven't got time to go for a counselling session!!
Answers: Help!! I am going through an extremely stressful patch at the moment,so I am trying to help myself by avoiding caffeine, alcohol as I know it increases anxiety feelings for me. My problems are the mornings - I wake up feeling really anxious, and unable to get moving from my bed. It takes me 2-3 hours to calm down to the point that I can get on with my day. I used to suffer from panic attacks several years ago, and had one about 4 weeks ago (dreading having another one!). I try relaxing at night before I go to bed - any ideas what I can do to help myself in the mornings?? I think I must be sleeping badly, as I am shattered during the next day, and always wake thinking about the issues that are stressing me out. I don't want to have to go to the GP - only as a last resort. I haven't got time to go for a counselling session!!
Hi, I can partly understand what you're going through as I had pretty severe panic/anxiety attacks and found the mornings to be the hardest.
I always found lying in bed dreading the day ahead just made things worse, the best thing to do is get up and keep yourself occupied.
GP's aren't a huge help i've found, the tablets help but are no cure and as for counselling its time consuming (im currently doing it weekly private as the NHS are too slow). In the meantime, how about something like Bachs remedy which is meant to be calming? Also, my doctor recommended Kalms which are completely herbal so there's no real limit to them, she mentioned trying a couple a day just to get them into my system rather than as and when I need them.
Hope some of that perhaps helps, any questions though just drop us an email if you want.
Dave
You should MAKE time for a counselling session as that's what would most likely help you. All the best.
Are you drinking excessive amounts of water? This DOES make you anxious in the long term. ESP! when you're giving up two things at the same time
when i worked in a stressful job and always worried about someone or something, i used to write down all the little bitty things that would be on my mind before going to bed, then leave the paper and a penby my bed and if i woke up or didn't want to get up in the morning i would add to the list or cross off the ones that wernt bothering me anymore.
Yikes! First of all, sorry you're in this spot. My sister suffers from GAD ... here are some things to try -
1. Try to contain stress before you go to bed. Make a list of what you have to do the next day so when you wake up you can tell yourself, "Relax. It's all on my list," and breathe!
2. Could you set a pot for decaf coffee? Maybe all the changes AND the new 'no coffee' things aren't so hot together! Have a nice cup of decaf waiting for you, especially if it's part of your routine.
3. Sorry, but, really consider a trip to the GP and then make time for counseling. My best guess is two to three hours to get going is probably outside of the norm. You're not having a panic attack and pushing through - you're being incapacitated. An anti-anxiety med will probably help to calm you enough to deal with the root of that anxiety.
4. Yoga? Exercise? Especially if you make a commitment to join a friend, that might get your butt going??!!
Good luck dealing with this. Maybe find a board where you can chat with others in the same position. It often helps to know you're not alone....
Ok well i have OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) which is and anxiety disorder
sometimes ocd people might fell anxious or nervous when they dont know what is going to happen (the day ahead, the future..etc.) and since we like to make things perfect, if we dont know what is going to happen then we cant make it perfect... sounds crazy huh? maybe go to your doctor and get a medicine, like i take lexapro for ocd, (for the anxiety) and i take riddilin (for my add or adhd) which would calm you down physically, and the lexapro will calm you down mentally)
best luck
10mg of Propranolol will take the morning anxiety away. I've been taking this for a couple of years now and it works very well. They also deal with the panic attacks.
5htp (hyroxytryptophan) - an amino-acid - is also good for anxiety. I take mine at night as it helps you to sleep, but you can take it in the morning as well. Try 50mg at night then 50mg in the morning and see how you get on. Buy it from health food stores or over the 'net. I use the Serotone brand which is safe and effective.
Rhodiola Rosea (Siberian Golden Root) is an adaptogen and will help your body recover from, and cope with, stress.
Also try cutting out caffeine completely - even in tea - when I did this I found that my palpitations and feelings of anxiety did decrease. You can use herbal or decaff alternatives.
Passiflora and Valerian are also good for anxiety.
Other than that, it's a trip to your doctors. You doc would need to prescribe the propranolol anyway. Please don't let them suggest antidepressants (SSRIs) as a way of dealing the the anxiety - they do work for a time, but the side effects are awful. Try the 5htp before you try any antidepressant.
The propranolol is a beta blocker and acts by blocking the action of adrenaline on the heart - it has no side effects in low dosage, is non-addictive and won't cloud your thought processes like SSRIs do.
I hope you feel better soon ?