[Rose76]

I think this is a common problem with depressives. I find the first couple of hours after I wake up are my worse time of the day. Sometimes it goes on into the afternoon, or early evening. To get out of bed is a huge challenge - every single, solitary day. I just feel absolutely lousy, both physically and mentally. I bought caffeine tablets, but didn't find them helpful. I wake up feeling exhausted.

After some hours have passed, I often feel basically okay . . . even fine. But I am wasting a huge amount of time because every morning I am miserably depressed for hours.

I would like to hear what other people who find mornings tough do to get up to speed. I'm wondering how common this is, or isn't, among others battling chronic depression. Have you found anything that helps? Anyone taking stimulants in the morning? Can they make a big difference? I'm starting to just give up and stay in bed late, which I know is the worse thing I can do. But getting over that morning hump just seems to get harder and harder.

Anybody else going through this?

[LucyG]

Are you on any meds? If not, there are some supplements [amino acids] you can take that will enable your brain to produce the neurotransmitters your brain needs so you feel happy and like life is worth living.

Here's an article on treating depression with amino acids:

Amino Acid Therapy for Depression and Anxiety

Yepp, I go through this too. :/ I've been missing more work than I should be due to my day starting off badly (my job starts at 6:30am and I wake up at 4:30am, so it can be a challenge to force myself up).

I posted on the board about this and someone replied that they don't allow themselves to really think when they first wake up, otherwise the depressing thoughts would become overwhelming.

So I tried that on Monday and Tuesday, and it actually helped! As soon as the alarm went off I jumped into the shower before my mind could even begin to think. Before I knew it, my shower was over and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Another thing that helps is taking things one task at a time rather than thinking of everything I need to do.

I'm still struggling with this daily though, including days off, so would also love to see other replies.

[unaluna]

Whats been getting me out of bed lately are Hazel reruns at 10 am. She's a doozie! If Hazel cant cheer ya up, nothing can. And she would be the first to admit it. Hoo boy!

[hopeless2015]

I'm with scared and confused if I allow myself the time to think I go to a bad place. If I don't get up when the alarm goes off and get in the shower my chances of staying in bed for the day are very high. It's a struggle every day so I know how you feel. Sending hugs!!

There are times when I battle that myself. As hard as this may sound to believe, it's not bad for me when I get up in the morning to go to work. Though there are some mornings that it is hard. What's very surprising to me is that I have to get up in the dark now. That had always been very hard for me.

But on Saturdays and Sundays, it's harder. I don't work on those days. Sundays are the worst. On Saturdays, I feel better after breakfast and better when I start to do cleaning. Sundays are bad because I don't have much lined up except for church. It's hard to believe that being a Christian as I am, going to church can be depressing. It's been that way for a long time. I feel like I have not found a good church in so many years.

I have to ask, is it possible when you first get up, that your blood sugar can be very low? Because I notice that I feel much better after eating. Not only do I feel depressed before breakfast; I get a lot of dreadful feelings. My doctor has never indicated that I have any kind of low blood sugar of some kind.

[Fuzzybear]

[Rose76]

Thanks, all of you, for the replies. Turning this around seems to depend so much on will power. I can't seem to find any in the morning. I am telling myself that I better get it together. I know I'm totally wasting so much time . . . and I know life exacts a price for that.

Now I'm just getting more depressed.

[Delicious]

Are you in any way competitive?

I mentioned in another thread not to long ago that even though I'm very depressed in the mornings, I've found that I can tap into the lingering competitiveness in my brain by asking myself "I wonder how fast I can get dressed today?"

I guess I go into competition mode and spring up out of bed without thinking anymore. My current record is two minutes

[unaluna]

I dont think i can make it to the bathroom in 2 minutes!

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by unaluna

I dont think i can make it to the bathroom in 2 minutes!

Lol this happens to me too, I somehow make it

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by Rose76

Thanks, all of you, for the replies. Turning this around seems to depend so much on will power. I can't seem to find any in the morning. I am telling myself that I better get it together. I know I'm totally wasting so much time . . . and I know life exacts a price for that.

Now I'm just getting more depressed.

"Wasting so much time... And I know life exacts a price for that"

I suppose it depends on your definition of "wasting" time, and your perception of the purpose of life, the purpose of your life...

I wouldn't "normally" respond to this sentence ... As I'm not sure I agree, although it's what has been drilled into some of us I suppose ...

And not only some over the "age" of 4 - who knows what was drilled into us at a very young age, including those here whose age of the body is 15 or so..

I wish you restorative rest and less painful mornings...

[Rose76]

Well, clearly I'm not alone in this battle of getting over that morning hump. Thanks, all of you, for seeming to know exactly what I'm talking about.

As one of you said above, having a destination to get to - like a job - can help force one to get going. I had the least problem with this when I was working and had a job that started in the morning. Now I no longer work, so there is little to force me to get going in the a.m.

As far as what constitutes "wasting time," I do appreciate your suggestion, Fuzzy, that maybe I'm doing what I need to do and maybe I'm holding myself to some externally imposed srandard that I could lighten up on. Kind of you to say that, but - no - I'm languishing in a state of apathy and lethargy that just leads to deeper depression. When some appointment forces me out the door early, I feel so, so much better. Trust me - I tend to be very self-forgiving - when I feel a legitimate need to take it easy.

As some here might know from other threads I've started, I take care of my boyfriend who is in failing health. Even though I have my own apartment, I'm hardly ever there. My bf is mobility impaired and has mild dementia. He's become very lethargic, himself . . . . and I do believe that gets to be contagious. We have some help in home attendants who come by, but they aren't realy all that much help. They're basically just like baby-sitters. Not one of them has demonstrated the ability to fry an egg. They get, like, minimum wage and they tend to be older individuals who are doing this kind of "work" because they are retired from something else and have health issues of their own. For example, one of them has cancer, but is a really nice person.

My bf used to love to cook for me, and that made me feel cared for. Now he can't make a piece of toast for himself. We tried the nursing home option, and I was miserable seeing him there. I'ld rather have him home.

He gets up at a regular hour every day. I manage to crawl out of bed behind him and give him breakfast. Then I just crawl back to bed for a few more hours, until it's time to feed him again. But this is not all caused by caretaker burnout. I have some of that, but I've had this morning problem all my life. As I'm getting older, I really do have less energy. Plus, age brings aches and pains that are worst when first getting out of bed.

I know this is something I've either got to fight, or my life is going to go further down hill. I've got bags full of mail that I haven't even looked at. I'm paying all my bills late. Two months ago, I simply forgot to pay my rent, till my landlord texted me about it. Wasn't like I didn't have the money.

The morning shower might be a good habit to get into, if I can pull it off. There's sort of a cycle. I do better for a few days . . . then I relapse into the rut . . . then I improve for a few days . . . and on and on the cycle goes. Lord, I do sound dreary.

I like the suggestion about not thinking in the a.m. I do recognize that I manage to think myself further into the dumps, when my attention is not engaged by something outside of myself.

Thanks, all, for understanding.

[with or without you]

Yep, I'm a train wreck most mornings. I wake up with bad heart palpitations in the morning even if it's not a workday - I guess it's just like, "damn, it's time to 'adult' again." Even when I was a little kid my parents would call me Oscar the Grouch in the morning. (I thought it was funny). Some mornings when I'm really depressed I'll have crying spells.

I'm more chilled out at night.

[mugwort2]

Originally Posted by Rose76

I think this is a common problem with depressives. I find the first couple of hours after I wake up are my worse time of the day. Sometimes it goes on into the afternoon, or early evening. To get out of bed is a huge challenge - every single, solitary day. I just feel absolutely lousy, both physically and mentally. I bought caffeine tablets, but didn't find them helpful. I wake up feeling exhausted.

After some hours have passed, I often feel basically okay . . . even fine. But I am wasting a huge amount of time because every morning I am miserably depressed for hours.

I would like to hear what other people who find mornings tough do to get up to speed. I'm wondering how common this is, or isn't, among others battling chronic depression. Have you found anything that helps? Anyone taking stimulants in the morning? Can they make a big difference? I'm starting to just give up and stay in bed late, which I know is the worse thing I can do. But getting over that morning hump just seems to get harder and harder.

Anybody else going through this?

TBH didn't read the other replies . Are you on an anti-depressant. Do you think increasing the dose could help. My depression, like you, is most severe in the morning I try to think of something to look forward too . This is a real example It may sound lighthearted but its totally true for me. What gets me going in the morn is the thought of eating some chocolate. Hopefully you can see about looking forward to something enjoyable.

[newtobipolar]

I have it too!!!! I am not myself, a bit sad, more unmotivated until about 3-4pm. Nights 99% of the time are depression/anxiety free. It sucks, but at least I know to expect it

[Hairball]

i am there with you also, i do have to get up 3 mornings out of the week for work but other than that I have nothing to get up for.

i know if i had something i really wanted to do or a place i really wanted to go i would get up but nowadays i am not feeling it. I don't have that need to go or do anymore.

i rarely get excited over plans, and sometimes dread them instead.

i just went back on meds a few days ago and can already tell the difference in my mood so hopefully my motivation will follow.

[Rose76]

About 8 p.m., I managed to bust out of the quicksand sucking me down. Now I feel good. I got stuff done: some housework, cooked a nice supper. But I'm afraid I'll lose the ground I've gained - just by going to sleep later. I dread that I'm apt to wake up right back down in the muck, and it'll take me all day, tomorrow, to break free of that again.

Maybe I should drink some wine to enjoy this while it lasts.

I guess I could be what they call cyclothymic. I go up and down in the elevator. I wish I could stop it. I've had all the professional care there is. Now I wish there were a doctor who could just recognize how miserable this is . . . even if medicine can't do anything more for me. Just for someone to understand. I wish my boyfriend would stop just blaming me for this. He could give me a hand to help pull me up . . . but he doesn't. Just says he has no idea what depression is.

[AHeartOfRuby]

I go through this, I am now addicted to coffee and excersize.. but it seems that I'm getting worse passing out at 5 pm..

People that say they don't understand what depression is are telling the truth in my experience. My bf has no clue.
I want to help, not sure if I can. For me, going to bed at the same time and getting up at the same time every day is what works. I'm now in the habit for about 2 months. This morning my alarm didn't go off but i have an internal clock i guess.

Making sure your room is dark and cool, staying away from artificial light for at least an hour before bed (i don't even watch tv) has helped me. It's rhythm that our body needs. Keep the bedroom strictly for sleep. Not naps. If you can't sleep then read a book with low light but no screens of tv or computer.

Lavender oils make some people sleepy. Can you afford or go to a pool or massage therapist once in a while? Can you get a dog where you live now so it has to be taken for a walk?

We all need something we look forward to getting up for. Myself, I'm addicted to coffee. (And unfortunately cigarettes, which also feed my desire to get up.)

My alarm is set to radio and that helps as long as it isn't the news when I wake.

[BudFox]

When I hear exhaustion first thing in the AM, I think adrenal problems. Cortisol levels should be highest around 7-8am and if cortisol is depressed at that time, this correlates with AM fatigue.

Addressing adrenals, thyroid, sleep habits, blood sugar, circadian rhythm disturbances could be huge.

I think the danger is that once a person is deemed to be depressed, every symptom is attributed to this, meanwhile the body might be screaming for help.

[Rose76]

Thanks, disparaissant, for those tips on good sleep hygiene. I probably could do more to cultivate better habits. When I worked at a day job, it forced me into a routine that did me a world of good.

Thanks, Bud, for the explanation about the adrenals and cortisone. I have been referred to a sleep disorders center. In a few weeks, I go for an overnight stay. You make a good point about the depression getting blamed for everything. I'm going to try to keep the focus on the sleep disorder at the center I mentioned above. I think I have a sleep disorder independent of the mood disorder, but each one clearly makes the other one worse.

[BudFox]

Doing a sleep study/assessment makes perfect sense. I did one a few years ago. Hope you get some useful info from it.

[little turtle]

Originally Posted by BudFox

When I hear exhaustion first thing in the AM, I think adrenal problems. Cortisol levels should be highest around 7-8am and if cortisol is depressed at that time, this correlates with AM fatigue.

Addressing adrenals, thyroid, sleep habits, blood sugar, circadian rhythm disturbances could be huge.

I think the danger is that once a person is deemed to be depressed, every symptom is attributed to this, meanwhile the body might be screaming for help.

absolutely....there may be more than ONE thing