Morning depression

[Montepulcino1927]

Or what my psychiatrist calls “diurnal variation”. Every morning I feel horribly depressed, hopeless the usual symptoms. But by evening each day I feel decent. It lifts. Does anyone else have this syndrome?

[Roxylox]

I usually find it hard to face the day, tired , unmotivated, as the day goes on l do improve

I was always more of a night owl anyway

[bonkers65]

I'm the same way. My therapist says I've become conditioned. Waking up triggers my depression. I always feel better at night though. I wish I knew how to condition myself to feel better in the mornings.

[QCuriosa in reply to bonkers65]

Wow maybe that’s what it is , we are conditioned and expect to de depressed. We need to use all our resources and smarts to work through it and help ourselves lift out and try to not be just a victim

[Jeff1943]

This is very common among people with anxiety disorder. It's supposed to be caused by our bodies peaking in cortisol production first thing in the morning. But I'm not so sure: I think it is the switch from sleeping/doing nothing to the realisation we have another day of high anxiety to face. If you just get up and get on with your day it usually wears off by mid morning.

[Mrspjsmom]

I haven't heard of this before but it makes sense. For me it depends on whether I have had a restless night filled with nightmares. Even if that happens though as long as I can wake up to a quiet house and start the day at my own pace I do ok. My rough time is late afternoon to early evening. My arthritis and fibromyalgia pain starts taking its toll and I often feel I haven't accomplished enough. I am glad your day improves.

[QCuriosa]

Oh that’s me for sure since so many years ago.I guess at least we see a change later in the day and feel better. Are you on meds? I’m on Paxil

[Adlon57]

Yes I always feel rotten in the morning, but I think it because I have Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy, rotten sleeper, fear of waking in the morning as the majority of my seizures are in the morning, as you say "feel horribly depressed, hopeless the usual symptoms" definitely not a morning person but it always wears off, by evening feel ok, best time of the day, brain works best at this time {now} thus does not help when trying to get to sleep, brain working overtime😤so it goes on! I am 65 have had that condition since 14! Never heard of “diurnal variation” but it ticks all the boxes.

[QCuriosa in reply to Adlon57]

sound like diurnal variation for sure. For me starting at 2 to 4 I begin to feel a lift and end up the day feeling great and not down.

There is a lot of info online on this but treatments are the same