Morning anxiety

[Mongea]

One of the most frustrating parts of my recovery is the morning anxiety. During the day I feel good, for the most part.

Does anyone have tips/advice as to how they handle and deal with waking up with the anxiety? Does this go away over time with the proper treatment? Mt doctor has me splitting my Zoloft dose (125) between morning and evening to ensure I have full coverage, but the mornings are still really tough.

Appreciate any feedback.

[Callie67]

I read mornings are hardest bc we have a spike in cortisol. I always have morning anxiety until the Ativan kicks in. (If it does, sometimes it feels like I took nothing) As soon as we’re up we shouldn’t lay in bed bc we’ll dwell on our thoughts, get up and get moving to get the nervous energy out.

I can’t say it helps much but maybe it’ll help you. I took my Zoloft in the morning as well and was always anxious. How long have you been taking it in the morning?

[Mongea in reply to Callie67]

I’ve been taking it in the morning since the beginning ( ten weeks ago) I started splitting the dose between night and day about three weeks ago.

[Callie67 in reply to Mongea]

Damn and you still have morning anxiety at that high dose? Maybe it isn’t the right med for you.

[Mongea in reply to Callie67]

75 mg in the morning and 50 mg at night. That’s what I’m starting to think. I may go up to 150 and give that a couple weeks. I would add that I’m tapering off Ativan so I’m not sure if that’s contributing...

[Callie67 in reply to Mongea]

Oh yes I forgot about that! That is definitely a withdrawal symptom, the rebound anxiety. I cut out my afternoon dose of Ativan 2 weeks ago and that’s when I get a lot of my symptoms still.

[Mongea in reply to Callie67]

I cut the night dose down .125 this past week, I suppose that could be what mornings are getting a little harder. Hopefully it’s just temporary!

[Callie67 in reply to Mongea]

That could def be it! And it WILL be temporary. Your body will eventually get used to it. Just gotta ride it out, be patient and positive. (easier said than done, I know.)

[AnxiousAutismDad]

I get it bad too, just wanna curl up into a ball. I think you just gotta kick urself in the behind and get moving. The more you dwell, the worse it is.

[Mongea in reply to AnxiousAutismDad]

That’s exactly what I do! But I can say I long for the days when I can just lay in bed and relax in the mornings. Up until anxiety started four months ago- it was one of my favorite things to do.

[Brifish in reply to Mongea]

Morning anxiety can be scary. The nervous(energy) you feel from the Cortisol is horrible especially when your thoughts are going a mile a minute and if you have health anxiety the cortisol triggers symptom checking and physical symptoms. I'm currently in week 4.5 on a upped dose of Effexor and I've been to my doctor several times as I'm worried its not working. Hang in there, it will get better.

[CAM0005]

I wake up and hour early, take my meds and go back to sleep for an hour. That gives my meds an opportunity to “kick-in” before I have to get up.

[Willie211]

Let me tell you because I know all about these things. Waking up and feeling anxiety and generally bad in the morning is extremely common. Like your defenses are down at first - and it takes some time to get acclimated again. Know this: don't dwell on - because it's really not important - and it doesn't mean you are not getting well. YOU ARE. In the end accepting the feeling - not dwelling on it - and quietly moving on with your day is the best approach. Searching for a reason never, never helps. But willingly accepting it - however long it goes on - will help you. Trust me.

[AnxiousAutismDad in reply to Willie211]

Amen! Great advice