Morning Anxiety
Recently after listening to session 2 on panic attacks I started getting them in the morning when heading to work and about a hour or two into work. I never had them like this before but they are to the point where I don't want to drive or stay at work while I am having them. They come on over and over again. I stick it out anyway, but I start to think what is wrong with me because they are so bad. Any help?
Rosalie 1: I know exactly what you are saying. There have been times while getting ready for work that I have been real shaky and dizzy and didn't think I could go to work. I listened to my relaxation CD and it seemed to calm me down. I also constantly say to myself this is just anxiety. I am ok and there is nothing wrong with me. I helps tremendously. This program has gotten me to this point. I am so greatful to have this program. I know how you are feeling, but please know that you can get through your day. I have had many days at work that I thought I had to go home sick. I stayed and worked through the day just by slowing down my breathing and telling myself I can get through this. I know it is a hard thing to do, but the more you do it, wait and see you will be more confident and those feelings will not overwhelm you. Take care.
I know what you mean about morning anxiety-- I get mine the second i wake up. I wake up with my heart pounding so hard and so fast and I'm just waiting to wake up feeling peaceful one of these days! I think the best thing to do is get through it every time it afflicts us and then tell ourselves that we're really proud of ourselves for making it through something that felt scary and uncomfortable and just plain horrible. Telling myself I'm proud of myself often helps those negative post-thoughts about the re-occurances of such discomfort. Also, proving to yourself that you will get through it will allow you to eventually not feel those attacks anymore. They're probably coming now simply because we're anticipating them so we create them!
Love and Light
Rene'
Rene'
Wow!! I always feel like that in the AM- like I cannot handle the day ahead of me & I HATE waking up in the morning... My snooze button is my best friend... I always feel better as the day goes on. I am always much calmer in the evening and at night.. For some reason, I am always ANXIOUS when I wake up!! I remember what Lucinda said in session 3 "positive self-talk"-- so I use the breathing and relaxation techniques, along with telling myself; as I am blow-drying my hair thinking that I hate my job, I cannot get through this day, I look ugly, my head hurts, etc,etc,etc... "This day will be over, Friday will be here soon, I am having a nice lunch today, I can watch a movie later, etc"... But what is up with waking up feeling like this???
I too have morning anxiety. I suffer with the 'what if's', we are most vunerable to negative thoughts when we are sick or in the morning when our 'mental' is just waking. I just tell myself a mantra that a very dear person once told me to say... 'just put one foot in front of another', it's hard but I concentrate on one step, then the next step and the next thing you know I'm up and going. It may take a second for my brain and feelings to catch up, but it will. Hang in there!
Mornings are tough for me as well, especially when I haven't slept well. I do feel vulnerable to the "what ifs" more in the AM than any other time. The "one foot on front of the other" is great advice. I find if I do this, the day isn't nearly what my anxiety made it out to be in the morning. God bless.
I am the same way the anxiety in the morning is the worst and it is as soon as I wake with the heart pounding. I am on session 2. What I do first thing when I wake up is press the button on my cd player and listen to the relaxation tape. I don't really start relaxing until the second listen. Thanks for sharing...
Hi!
I can totally relate to your problem.
My anxiety disorder started in 1999, and since then I practically wake up with anxiety every single morning, the feeling of doom, afraid of being unable to handle the day. Always. (Only when I have vacation and on the weekends it´s better.)
However, with the help of God, I always handle the day, no matter what.
But I wish I would be able to wake up in the morning and think: what a wonderful day, I look foward to what ever comes ect. Joy of life has become alien to me.
Okay; I think one reason for the morning anxiety is the low blood sugar when I get up. I have hyperglycamia and need to eat regularly, otherwise I get this anxiety caused by adrenaline. So I eat breakfast every morning as soon as possible, like cereals with fruit and milk.
The other thing is simply: my body and mind have gotten used to react in certain ways to certain situations, it´s just a habit! Probably hard to change back, but not impossible.
Getting up during the week, making myself ready for work, going there by underground, I feel TERRIBLE. Dizzy, nauseous, anxious, exhausted.
The last years I had a job where I was under pressure, always afraid of making mistakes, feeling rejected and disliked by my coworker, never got a friendly word from anyone. So my way to work is connected with being afraid and inner reluctance.
Meanwhile, because the job really made me sick, I got another job in the same authority, so there´s no more pressure, no more Mrs. Always NastyAndNeverSatisfied ect.
However, the way to work is still the same, and I think it just takes time to replace the negative feelings.
Another thing may be my personal situation during the last years that was very depressing. When my disorder started, I had severe problems with my husband, and staying with him intensified the anxiety over the years. My Mum got cancer. My husband lost his job and went to another country for work.
So I always had to deal with loss and insecurity. I finally separated from him which was really the right decision, but now I´m a single Mum with financial problems and bad nerves.
I try to ignore my morning feelings because I know here they are coming from and that they disappear while the day progresses. I think this feeling of being overwhelmed by the day that lies ahead also comes from being physically and mentally overwrought and exhausted.
Okay, this is only my own story, but maybe it helps you a little bit. Accept your feelings, go through your day in spite of them. Take care of a good nutrition, enoguh sleep, try to do some sports, avoid caffeine and sweets. Avoid friendships with negative people, learn to say no,
By the way: Taking long walks with my dog work wonders every time!
It´s so good to find help and support here by people who know what we are talking about!
Susanne
I can totally relate to your problem.
My anxiety disorder started in 1999, and since then I practically wake up with anxiety every single morning, the feeling of doom, afraid of being unable to handle the day. Always. (Only when I have vacation and on the weekends it´s better.)
However, with the help of God, I always handle the day, no matter what.
But I wish I would be able to wake up in the morning and think: what a wonderful day, I look foward to what ever comes ect. Joy of life has become alien to me.
Okay; I think one reason for the morning anxiety is the low blood sugar when I get up. I have hyperglycamia and need to eat regularly, otherwise I get this anxiety caused by adrenaline. So I eat breakfast every morning as soon as possible, like cereals with fruit and milk.
The other thing is simply: my body and mind have gotten used to react in certain ways to certain situations, it´s just a habit! Probably hard to change back, but not impossible.
Getting up during the week, making myself ready for work, going there by underground, I feel TERRIBLE. Dizzy, nauseous, anxious, exhausted.
The last years I had a job where I was under pressure, always afraid of making mistakes, feeling rejected and disliked by my coworker, never got a friendly word from anyone. So my way to work is connected with being afraid and inner reluctance.
Meanwhile, because the job really made me sick, I got another job in the same authority, so there´s no more pressure, no more Mrs. Always NastyAndNeverSatisfied ect.
However, the way to work is still the same, and I think it just takes time to replace the negative feelings.
Another thing may be my personal situation during the last years that was very depressing. When my disorder started, I had severe problems with my husband, and staying with him intensified the anxiety over the years. My Mum got cancer. My husband lost his job and went to another country for work.
So I always had to deal with loss and insecurity. I finally separated from him which was really the right decision, but now I´m a single Mum with financial problems and bad nerves.
I try to ignore my morning feelings because I know here they are coming from and that they disappear while the day progresses. I think this feeling of being overwhelmed by the day that lies ahead also comes from being physically and mentally overwrought and exhausted.
Okay, this is only my own story, but maybe it helps you a little bit. Accept your feelings, go through your day in spite of them. Take care of a good nutrition, enoguh sleep, try to do some sports, avoid caffeine and sweets. Avoid friendships with negative people, learn to say no,
By the way: Taking long walks with my dog work wonders every time!
It´s so good to find help and support here by people who know what we are talking about!
Susanne
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- Posts: 73
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2001 3:00 am
Susanne,
I can totally relate to the morning anxiety. My routine demands that I wake up much earlier than my body clock would like, and, since I hated my job and was terrified of vomiting (the fear behind my panic attacks), I would literally feel as if I had the stomach flu every damn morning. I would sit in my chair and cry; it took everything I had to drag myself to work (not wonder I was exhausted?!). Since then I have quit that job and am currently on summer vacation (I'm a teacher). I'm hoping that with this program and getting off of my medication, I will be a different, more reasonable person by the time school begins again. I would be happy if I could just start my day off without feeling like I'm going to be sick! It's tough to start that way because it seems to set the tone for the rest of the day.
I can totally relate to the morning anxiety. My routine demands that I wake up much earlier than my body clock would like, and, since I hated my job and was terrified of vomiting (the fear behind my panic attacks), I would literally feel as if I had the stomach flu every damn morning. I would sit in my chair and cry; it took everything I had to drag myself to work (not wonder I was exhausted?!). Since then I have quit that job and am currently on summer vacation (I'm a teacher). I'm hoping that with this program and getting off of my medication, I will be a different, more reasonable person by the time school begins again. I would be happy if I could just start my day off without feeling like I'm going to be sick! It's tough to start that way because it seems to set the tone for the rest of the day.