[Patsy Cline]

Lately I've been waking up extremely nervous and anxious. The second I open my eyes I feel it. I don't have any stressful events happening in my life and I'm not sure what's causing it. I don't have a particular reason for the anxiety, I just wake up feeling this way and it paralyses me. I spend an hour to an hour and a half thinking of what might be causing my anxiety. I troll through past experiences in my head to see which one of them MAY be the problem. I'm constantly late to places because I don't get out of bed and I just want to go back to sleep so I won't feel so uncomfortable. Does this happen to anyone else? Does anyone else have any coping mechanisms? I'm afraid this is going to cause heart problems for me!
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[~Christina]

I sometimes wake up with the panic.. No reason I can put my finger on.. When it happens I have learned to just jump in the shower it eases the panic for me..

Are you on any medications? Maybe by morning they are wearing off ? Just a thought.

Good luck, I hope your able to find a solution

[LastQuestion]

I have this issue to a degree from the benzo withdrawal symptoms I'm experiencing, though I have difficulty experiencing emotions for reasons I have yet to fully identify.

The over the counter stress relievers I have been taking start to wear off towards morning and I've been waking up repeatedly throughout the night often from profoundly disturbing dreams, especially after titrating down my dosage or when I've been under greater stress than usual during the day. I'll often stay awake thinking about the dream, with what I believe qualifies as anxiety.

Sometimes I manage to resolve to go back to sleep, at which point I'll engage in non-directive meditation to quiet my mind. Sometimes I'll get up and eat some Greek yogurt, the lean protein helps me relax, even though I'd rather not eat during the night.

[BlackSheep79]

I go thru phases of coming out of my sleep experiencing a panic attack. I know it has to do with the fear of going to work. I agree with Christina about jumping into the shower. I don't know why but it seems to work for me. It has that relaxing affect. It doesn't get rid of all of the anxiety but makes the paralyzingly kind dissipate. It's worth a try.

[Patsy Cline]

Originally Posted by BlackSheep79

I go thru phases of coming out of my sleep experiencing a panic attack. I know it has to do with the fear of going to work. I agree with Christina about jumping into the shower. I don't know why but it seems to work for me. It has that relaxing affect. It doesn't get rid of all of the anxiety but makes the paralyzingly kind dissipate. It's worth a try.

I end up getting up so late all I have time to do is change, brush my teeth and run out the house. Takes me 10 mins to get to work so if I have to be there at 9 I get out of bed at 8:40. Sleeping is just such a relief. So I'm a night showerer. Maybe I need to change my routine.

[Patsy Cline]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I sometimes wake up with the panic.. No reason I can put my finger on.. When it happens I have learned to just jump in the shower it eases the panic for me..

Are you on any medications? Maybe by morning they are wearing off ? Just a thought.

Good luck, I hope your able to find a solution

I take my meds before bed. Maybe I need new meds.

[Wander]

Originally Posted by Patsy Cline

Lately I've been waking up extremely nervous and anxious. The second I open my eyes I feel it. I don't have any stressful events happening in my life and I'm not sure what's causing it. I don't have a particular reason for the anxiety, I just wake up feeling this way and it paralyses me. I spend an hour to an hour and a half thinking of what might be causing my anxiety. I troll through past experiences in my head to see which one of them MAY be the problem. I'm constantly late to places because I don't get out of bed and I just want to go back to sleep so I won't feel so uncomfortable. Does this happen to anyone else? Does anyone else have any coping mechanisms? I'm afraid this is going to cause heart problems for me!
__________________

I can really relate to this. When I am in a depressive phase I have so much trouble getting out of bed. At times I would make it out of bed, shower, have breakfast only to crawl back into bed and get out at the last possible minute before I have to leave for work. It is the most horrid feeling, I empathize with you. As for what to do, I really couldn't find anything that would help until meds kicked in and the depressive phase passes. It does help to have a good sleep routine and to try to drag yourself out of bed at the same time each day, but I know how difficult that can be.

How long has this been going on? Does your pdoc and/or therapist know? Maybe there are some meds and therapies that can help you establish a healthier routine. Take care

[lilypup]

God, I hate to shower so that would not be soothing to me. I'd talk to my pdoc about new meds or a tweak. Waking up with anxiety could be a work problem. Work was a major stressor for me.

[Crazy Hitch]

I'm very familiar with morning anxiety at that's the time I'm most prone to panic attacks. But mine were work related when I was working. Had to go on extra meds to control it. Now I'm not working for the last three weeks I'm finding my anxiety getting worse late afternoon to evening. I've got a lot going on right now that I'm trying to unpack. I found a strict routine in the morning helped when I was going through the phase. It bought a sense of consistency.

[Patsy Cline]

Originally Posted by Hooligan

I'm very familiar with morning anxiety at that's the time I'm most prone to panic attacks. But mine were work related when I was working. Had to go on extra meds to control it. Now I'm not working for the last three weeks I'm finding my anxiety getting worse late afternoon to evening. I've got a lot going on right now that I'm trying to unpack. I found a strict routine in the morning helped when I was going through the phase. It bought a sense of consistency.

A strict routine is something I long to have. I admire those that just open their eyes and get out of bed and start being productive. It makes me feel like a weaker person. Why can't I do that? Why do I linger in bed thinking that being under the covers is going to make me feel better. There's such a big gap between what I know is right and actually DOING it.

[Mountainbard]

Hi Patsy---

First and foremost you are NOT a weaker person. That's your illness talking. The gap you feel is frustrating, but don't let it become a source of guilt. You are worthy and you will get better!

Now as to the morning anxiety. I experienced this for about a year when I was off meds. I had an emotionally demanding job at the time and I thought this was what was causing the anxiety. Like you I'd wake up with it and be consumed by it for an hour or so. I always managed to get out the door to get to work on time, but sometimes it was a close thing. I was walking to work at the time and I think that helped.

The anxiety stopped when I got back on meds (Cymbalta). When I went off meds again (due to the fallout from a hypomanic episode) the morning anxiety returned. It always hit at 7 a.m. and I found I could often "outflank" it by getting up at about 6:30. I'd usually get some anxiety but it wasn't nearly as intense.

This time around I've been diagnosed BP2, as opposed to (just) major depression. I'm on Wellbutrin and lamotrigine this time, and the anxiety is gone again. It slowly ebbed when I started the new meds-- took about a month to go away.

I hope this of some help to you. I really empathize with what you're going through, and I know how bad it sucks.

all the best,
Randy