[hamster-bamster]

I know that early awakenings can be a symptom of depression, but to me they sometimes seem to be a symptom of anxiety. Has anybody experienced early awakening due to anxiety (say at 4-5 AM whereas I planned to sleep until 8AM)?

I will cross-post in the Anxiety forum.

[Curious651]

Sorry I cannot link early wake ups to that. Normally due to brain running a marathon and not being able to slow. I have gotten up due to fear though. Have PTSD and flashbacks or memories a jar me. Hope you can find your answer. Hope you can sleep better tonight.

[Lemon Curd]

My PMDD used to walk me up early. Too early.

[hamster-bamster]

I did have early awakenings with fear. Now, it is more anxiety than fear, but I know how it feels to be up at 3AM, all of a sudden, wide awake and frightened.

[LastQuestion]

I have noted that the times I wake up early like that were preceded by significant stress the previous day. In fact, that is what happened last night and today.

I got worked up in response to a stressor and it became very difficult to go to sleep. I had difficulty staying asleep as well. The days before were also stressful and my sleep wasn't the best.

An event doesn't necessarily have to be unpleasant for it to be stressful, but merely be highly activating. I think a lot of bipolar is just that the stress placed upon our bodies exceeds it's ability to repair and maintain. That minor mood swings and recurrance are preceded by a physiological cascade failure and the cognitive dysfunction and deficits we struggle with further compromise our ability to cope; to keep our mind/body in balance and have appropriate responses to stress. At least, in my experience things like sleep, exercise, and diet can have a significant impact on stability, all of which actively promote homeostasis in ways that no medication can replace.

To be clear, the above is just a brief overview of what I believe leads to unstable moods.

[Mountainbard]

Originally Posted by hamster-bamster

I know that early awakenings can be a symptom of depression, but to me they sometimes seem to be a symptom of anxiety. Has anybody experienced early awakening due to anxiety (say at 4-5 AM whereas I planned to sleep until 8AM)?

I will cross-post in the Anxiety forum.

Last two times I went into depression I had morning anxiety. It came like clockwork at 6 a.m. Now the odd thing is, if I got up before six, I didn't experience the anxiety, or if I did it was only for a few minutes, as opposed to an hour.

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by Mountainbard

Last two times I went into depression I had morning anxiety. It came like clockwork at 6 a.m. Now the odd thing is, if I got up before six, I didn't experience the anxiety, or if I did it was only for a few minutes, as opposed to an hour.

Exactly, like clockwork, it is just that mine happen earlier. And it is like the switch is ON!!! There is no gradual, lingering awakening - I was asleep and next second I am wide awake and anxious.

[WorkhorseDVM]

I am NOT a morning person, I am bright or early. Lately I am wide awake at 3am no matter what time I went to sleep. Tonight I was asleep @ 8:30pm. Wide awake 12am. Dang it. I think it is the bipolar mania and the cannot shut off the brain.

[Crazy Hitch]

Stress / anxiety definitely caused / causes early morning awakening where I just can't fall back asleep again.

[WorkhorseDVM]

I think I am about to be a train wreck again becuz of this. I was asleep at 8:30 last night, awake at 12am, and every 2 hours since. This has been going on for weeks. Pdoc is aware, appt on Friday. Terrified of train wreck coming if I do not get some real consistent sleep.

I am very sensitive to meds. Only taking 50 mg toprimate, 10 mg Lexapro, 75 mg trazadone, 3 mg Abilify. Just Dx in Sep and started trying find right meds. Seroquel not for me, I sleep but do not ever wake up enough to function on so low a dose not worth pursueing. Was in black hole depression. Lexapro and trazadone yanked me out into full blown manic but with a "filter" on my mouth, brain, etc. for the first time in my life I have had a filter.

I have got to sleep. Any suggestions!?

[hamster-bamster]

Originally Posted by WorkhorseDVM

I think I am about to be a train wreck again becuz of this. I was asleep at 8:30 last night, awake at 12am, and every 2 hours since. This has been going on for weeks. Pdoc is aware, appt on Friday. Terrified of train wreck coming if I do not get some real consistent sleep.

I am very sensitive to meds. Only taking 50 mg toprimate, 10 mg Lexapro, 75 mg trazadone, 3 mg Abilify. Just Dx in Sep and started trying find right meds. Seroquel not for me, I sleep but do not ever wake up enough to function on so low a dose not worth pursueing. Was in black hole depression. Lexapro and trazadone yanked me out into full blown manic but with a "filter" on my mouth, brain, etc. for the first time in my life I have had a filter.

I have got to sleep. Any suggestions!?

Seroquel might be worth restarting - give it a week and your body might adjust and become functional again. Maybe you quit too soon, not letting the brain do the adjustment.

[hamster-bamster]

I am up early again, at 4AM, and Zyprexa is not helping. I think it is right - a version of no-shut-off-brain coupled with anxiety...

[Blitter2014]

I can definitely relate waking early to the levels of stress in your life at any given time. I have been going through a crisis over the last couple of months and have been waking early 3-5am. This has been despite my sedating medication, and attempts to stay up late in order to sleep.

What I have found is that the moment I wake up I start stressing that I cannot go back to sleep. I then go through the whole mental process of telling myself its ok to be awake and starting the relaxation therapy - concentrating on one group of muscles tensing and relaxing them etc etc. Trouble is by the time I do all of this I have actually woken myself up even more. Then the brain and the racing thoughts start and its game over. Once has the choice of either lying in bed for hours til the sun comes up or getting up and doing something productive like being on PC.

For me its stress related for sure, but for you it could also be medication related or something else not already mentioned. Be a good idea to bring it up when you have your next Pdoc review.

[LastQuestion]

Originally Posted by Blitter2014

I can definitely relate waking early to the levels of stress in your life at any given time. I have been going through a crisis over the last couple of months and have been waking early 3-5am. This has been despite my sedating medication, and attempts to stay up late in order to sleep.

What I have found is that the moment I wake up I start stressing that I cannot go back to sleep. I then go through the whole mental process of telling myself its ok to be awake and starting the relaxation therapy - concentrating on one group of muscles tensing and relaxing them etc etc. Trouble is by the time I do all of this I have actually woken myself up even more. Then the brain and the racing thoughts start and its game over. Once has the choice of either lying in bed for hours til the sun comes up or getting up and doing something productive like being on PC.

For me its stress related for sure, but for you it could also be medication related or something else not already mentioned. Be a good idea to bring it up when you have your next Pdoc review.

Tensing muscles like that is actually a technique which is effective in helping wake up in the morning. I find simple breathing exercises helpful in going to sleep. Just deep slow breaths, focusing on my heartbeat, the regular and even pulse coursing through my body - calming down my body, letting it relax, and doing my best to empty my mind of all thought. Basically, I engage in non-directive meditation.

One of the most effective prophalactic treatments for bipolar is sleep. Specifically it's sleeping so as to maintain a stable Circadian Rhythm. Display devices and any other types of high liminosity light (overhead lighting being the most common) interferes with Circadian Rhythm as they emit frequencies of blue light which suppress the production of melatonin. Melatonin regulates sleep cycles and helps maintain the body.

[wiretwister]

Stayed up to 4am fri on a progect. followed by 65 hours of no sleep followed by 5 hours of sleep followed by another 5 hours the next nite...Crashed and burned missed work doped up and finally slept for 12 hours with only 2 interuptions..I am a mess.Don't know what the nite will bring. I must have regular sleep and i am not, wake up to either stress over days coming attractions or fear of what i did not do..I know and feel your pain..bedtime is scary for me