Getting out of bed and starting my day....

Hi Everyone

Every morning I have an anxiety attack: racing thoughts, heart pounding, stomach in knots, feeling like im going to vomit...etc. I am on a sedative and anti-depressant.

Does anyone have any other coping methods?

I'm sorry to hear that you have to go through this. Do you have them immediately on rising or after you start your morning routine? How soon do you eat after rising? Any other information you can think of?

Have you had your meds evaluated recently? Please let your doctor know how you are feeling to see if an adjustment can be made or if there is something different to try or something in addition to try.

No matter what, your doc and your T need to know how you are feeling.

Eating saltine crackers before getting out of bed may help.


ECHOES

i frequently wake up with pounding heart and racing thoughts. i just lean into it and get ready for work or go back to sleep, if i can.......xoxoxo pat

Are you worried about something? I sometimes will find this happening if I am worried about something.
Or, you may want to talk to your doc about this as I have also had to be put on heart meds because of it.
I don't want to worry you as this may not be your problem but I also don't want you to put it off as something that will go away or put up with it.
There is a reason this is happening and you need to find out why.
Wishing you the best,
Linda

I had a stressful time several months ago, where I would wake up with a panic attack. I take a beta blocker that helps calm the symptoms down. Crying also helped me. I use Bach Flower Remedies a lot too.

I would find a ritual or symbolism that would work for me. Can you set your alarm earlier and either stay in bed a bit longer or get up when nothing is expected of you yet? I use to love waking up early and getting up and working in my journal quietly in the living room alone, sometimes before the sun came up, etc. Now that I'm retired I get comfort knowing I don't have to get up at any particular time. Find something in the morning that is comforting/soothing/fun to look forward to?

I have a very difficult time getting out of bed in the morning as well- not quite the heart racing but just a general "blah" feeling. What I find really helpful is to get up and strech- as many times as I need. Just deep breath in and arms up to the sky and exhale out and arms down to the ground. It releases endorphins (sp?), makes me feel less tight, and just feels good. I know that is just not enough to completely brighten a morning or get rid of all the anxiety but it does help. Any little thing helps. One other thing that worked for me in the morning is to limit myself to one cup of coffee if that. For awhile I was drinking atleast 3 and when I switched over to herbal tea at work it made all the difference in the world (duh!)

Just some morning suggestions- good luck!

I use to have a book of daily meditations that I would leave on the back of the toilet. It may sound funny but that was the first place I could sit and get my head focused before the rest of the day started.

i'm going to start the stretching. i think that sounds wonderful........active circulation, warming up.....blood flow to the brain..........

I've been told part of my problem is that I over analyze things....think too much. Since I have started to eat more I dont feel so out of it. But getting up before noon is still a struggle.

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Pilatus said:
Hi Everyone

Every morning I have an anxiety attack: racing thoughts, heart pounding, stomach in knots, feeling like im going to vomit...etc. I am on a sedative and anti-depressant.

Does anyone have any other coping methods?

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The thing I find best to bring it to a 5 instead of an 8 for example is breathing deeply at least ten times. I haven't had a panic attack in about 2 years (except noctural ones) and last night it hit baaaad. I forgot what I did to cope but I got out my materials that I keep for panic attacks and remembered that I needed to breathe. The parasympathetic nerve receptors (that calm you down) are located more densely in the lower lobes of the lungs so deep breathing tells your nervous system that you are "ok". Then usually I will have more racing thoughts and I have to just keep breathing. Hope that helps in some way.

today i forced myself to do stuff around the house. im down to my last load of laundry & its taking all ive got to hang it up. also every day i end up drinking lots of decaf coffee which still wires me up after so much but i just keep doing it. i guess out of boredom. lately ive just been sitting in my room all day staring at the tv feeling like im gonna go crazy. i hate having to make myself do things. why cant i just be normal?

I also experience the early morning panic attacks....most mornings I would have to fight the desire to vomit before I leave for work.....but I fight it really hard and tell myself that nothing bad is going to happen to me. It usually works and by the time I get to the office, I am okay. Overcoming panic attacks is really a battle. I go the gym religiously every evening and walk on the treadmill for an hour. Then I do some light weights. I feel really good after the workout but then it takes so long for my heart rate to slow down..sometimes it taks a couple hours to feel close to normal again. And while this is happening., I sometimes experience another panic attack which just makes things worse! Thank God for the beta blockers!