[FallDuskTrain]

I have majority depression and it has gradually gotten worse the last several years and recently, it has become intolerable.
My question is about the mornings. Every morning, there's no miss, I wake up with severe anxiety and cry for about 20-25 minutes before I force myself to get out of bed.
Can you share your experiences and how did you deal with your morning depression? Did you have a ritual? I need to figure this out otherwise I will lose my job.
Thank you in advance.

[*Laurie*]

Hi, First of all, are you in treatment with a therapist or a psychiatrist (medication)?

I frequently have severe morning anxiety/depression. One way I deal with it is to get myself out of bed as soon as I awaken so I don't lie there ruminating.

[SalingerEsme]

I leave coffee on my bedside table before going to sleep, and drink it cold the second I wake up. Gross? Yes! Effective? Yes.

[FallDuskTrain]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Hi, First of all, are you in treatment with a therapist or a psychiatrist (medication)?

I frequently have severe morning anxiety/depression. One way I deal with it is to get myself out of bed as soon as I awaken so I don't lie there ruminating.

That makes a lot of sense. I have to find the strength to get out of bed like a robot. That will force me not to think about it.
Yes, i am taking an anti depressant and I have a therapist.
Thank you for responding.

[FallDuskTrain]

Originally Posted by SalingerEsme

I leave coffee on my bedside table before going to sleep, and drink it cold the second I wake up. Gross? Yes! Effective? Yes.

I love coffee so i would never find it gross, despite the condition its in.
I brew my coffee from the night before right by my bed but so far it hasn't been convincing enough to get me out of bed without crying.
Thank you for responding.

There could be multiple causes to your morning depression, especially if it happens every morning for the past few years. First, if you are constantly in a state of stress and anxiety, your cortisol levels peak every morning at 7 a.m., and can be the cause of your morning depression. The body stores cortisol during sleep.

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland. During the day, your cortisol hormone declines, and by night-time, it's undetectable. But, by morning, it reaches its peak and the surge of cortisol can cause serious morning depression, especially in women (doesn't matter what age you are, it's related to when your adrenal gland peaks your cortisol levels).

If you are a poor sleeper, awake at night due to insomnia caused by anxiety, then you're setting up your adrenal gland to malfunction. You won't be able to release cortisol at a normal rate. Instead, it builds up to excess, then gets released at once, in the morning time, and creates the depression symptoms. The only way to reverse this, is to help your adrenal gland reset.

That means, going to bed at the same time every night, finding a way to get rid of the feelings of anger, anxiety and depression from the day (exercise or whatever works for the person), because those negative feelings cause your cortisol levels to increase. It can take a few weeks to reset your adrenal gland and lower your cortisol production levels, to get rid of your morning depression. Changing your antidepressant dosage won't have any effect on getting rid of your morning depression, because it is probably related to your adrenal gland and cortisol hormone.

Next, there is the environment around you. You could suffer from "daylight depression." Do you spend a lot of time outside in the sunshine, or is most of your time spent indoors? If you spend more time inside, away from natural light, you could be experiencing ongoing SAD (seasonal affective disorder) which is easily fixed with a sunlight that you can buy off the internet or get from your doctor via prescription. You sit in front of the sunlight box for a period of time each day.

Then, you could be depleted in iron, vitamin B1, B6, B12, vitamin d, or magnesium. All of these vitamin deficiencies cause serious depression (in both genders). If you do an internet search, research medical journals, you can read the studies and research that shows what mood-related symptoms come with low vitamin and mineral levels in the body.

Then, there's the inflammation factor, related to what you eat and drink on a regular basis. Studies show that inflammation in the body can cause anxiety attacks, depression, and hives. If you eat nothing but processed foods, or don't eat regularly, you are again stressing out your adrenal gland, messing with your metabolism, and if both are malfunctioning, your mood can take a nose dive. You can find yourself in a perpetual state of depression. Add a few vegetables and fruits to your daily food, cut back on soda, beer, and processed food like bread, ice cream, candy and replace it with real food. You'll start feeling better. Studies show that eating real food also can release endorphins the same way that exercise does.

Also, change the time of day that you exercise to early mornings if you don't already exercise during that time. If you exercise later in the day or at night, again, you're messing with your stored cortisol hormone and stressing out your adrenal gland to build excess cortisol levels while you sleep, that then get released in the morning. If you add exercise in the morning, that will help release the excess cortisol hormone levels and produce the happy feeling of endorphins.

Also, aside from the cortisol issue, there's also the thyroid. If that is hypo (slow) that can cause major depression until you get on synthetic thyroid hormone and take vitamins along with it.

Finally, if you're unhappy with your job, your relationships, or something in your life that is constantly on your mind, then you need to come up with a plan to remove that source of negativity and unhappiness. Sounds easier than it is, but it's possible it could be a cause of your depression too.

Oh, and your antidepressant could have the side effect of depression and anxiety. So, there's a lot of causes for morning depression. It's just a matter of you figuring out which one or more could be contributing to your morning depression.

[FallDuskTrain]

Originally Posted by cielpur

There could be multiple causes to your morning depression, especially if it happens every morning for the past few years. First, if you are constantly in a state of stress and anxiety, your cortisol levels peak every morning at 7 a.m., and can be the cause of your morning depression. The body stores cortisol during sleep.

Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland. During the day, your cortisol hormone declines, and by night-time, it's undetectable. But, by morning, it reaches its peak and the surge of cortisol can cause serious morning depression, especially in women (doesn't matter what age you are, it's related to when your adrenal gland peaks your cortisol levels).

If you are a poor sleeper, awake at night due to insomnia caused by anxiety, then you're setting up your adrenal gland to malfunction. You won't be able to release cortisol at a normal rate. Instead, it builds up to excess, then gets released at once, in the morning time, and creates the depression symptoms. The only way to reverse this, is to help your adrenal gland reset.

That means, going to bed at the same time every night, finding a way to get rid of the feelings of anger, anxiety and depression from the day (exercise or whatever works for the person), because those negative feelings cause your cortisol levels to increase. It can take a few weeks to reset your adrenal gland and lower your cortisol production levels, to get rid of your morning depression. Changing your antidepressant dosage won't have any effect on getting rid of your morning depression, because it is probably related to your adrenal gland and cortisol hormone.

Next, there is the environment around you. You could suffer from "daylight depression." Do you spend a lot of time outside in the sunshine, or is most of your time spent indoors? If you spend more time inside, away from natural light, you could be experiencing ongoing SAD (seasonal affective disorder) which is easily fixed with a sunlight that you can buy off the internet or get from your doctor via prescription. You sit in front of the sunlight box for a period of time each day.

Then, you could be depleted in iron, vitamin B1, B6, B12, vitamin d, or magnesium. All of these vitamin deficiencies cause serious depression (in both genders). If you do an internet search, research medical journals, you can read the studies and research that shows what mood-related symptoms come with low vitamin and mineral levels in the body.

Then, there's the inflammation factor, related to what you eat and drink on a regular basis. Studies show that inflammation in the body can cause anxiety attacks, depression, and hives. If you eat nothing but processed foods, or don't eat regularly, you are again stressing out your adrenal gland, messing with your metabolism, and if both are malfunctioning, your mood can take a nose dive. You can find yourself in a perpetual state of depression. Add a few vegetables and fruits to your daily food, cut back on soda, beer, and processed food like bread, ice cream, candy and replace it with real food. You'll start feeling better. Studies show that eating real food also can release endorphins the same way that exercise does.

Also, change the time of day that you exercise to early mornings if you don't already exercise during that time. If you exercise later in the day or at night, again, you're messing with your stored cortisol hormone and stressing out your adrenal gland to build excess cortisol levels while you sleep, that then get released in the morning. If you add exercise in the morning, that will help release the excess cortisol hormone levels and produce the happy feeling of endorphins.

Also, aside from the cortisol issue, there's also the thyroid. If that is hypo (slow) that can cause major depression until you get on synthetic thyroid hormone and take vitamins along with it.

Finally, if you're unhappy with your job, your relationships, or something in your life that is constantly on your mind, then you need to come up with a plan to remove that source of negativity and unhappiness. Sounds easier than it is, but it's possible it could be a cause of your depression too.

Oh, and your antidepressant could have the side effect of depression and anxiety. So, there's a lot of causes for morning depression. It's just a matter of you figuring out which one or more could be contributing to your morning depression.

Cielpur, i cannot thank you enough.
What an informed post presented in such an intelligent way. I appreciate you taking the time to write it.
Your post confirms my own research and suspicions.
With that being said, I recently cut refined sugar out of my diet and replaced it with green leaf veggies, and I can feel the difference; although it is a slight difference for now, I hope it will have more positive impact in the long run.
Again, thank you.

[*Laurie*]

If you are on a medication that is a good one, the 'right' one, for you to be on, it shouldn't cause depression or anxiety.

[FallDuskTrain]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

If you are on a medication that is a good one, the 'right' one, for you to be on, it shouldn't cause depression or anxiety.

That is what I am also questioning. I have been on the same medication for 10+years and I dont think it works anymore.
But I have to be honest; the last year or so I did not exercise regularly, my diet consisted of processed food and refined sugar. In other words, I made my depression versus with my lifestyle choices.

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

If you are on a medication that is a good one, the 'right' one, for you to be on, it shouldn't cause depression or anxiety.

That's actually no longer true. Research has found that long-term use of antidepressants can cause a condition known as "tardiva dysphoria" and can actually worsen a person's existing depression.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...dive-dysphoria

Originally Posted by FallDuskTrain

That is what I am also questioning. I have been on the same medication for 10+years and I dont think it works anymore.
But I have to be honest; the last year or so I did not exercise regularly, my diet consisted of processed food and refined sugar. In other words, I made my depression versus with my lifestyle choices.

I would say its the processed food and lack of regular exercise that has your adrenal gland totally overworked and not functioning properly. But that is something an endocrinologist can confirm for you with a cortisol test (either done by saliva, blood, or urine sample). It's called a serum cortisol test.

Cortisol levels go up when the pituitary gland releases another hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The cortisol serum test will measure how well your pituitary gland is functioning. The antidepressant or any long term medication that you're on, can also interfere with your pituitary gland functioning at 100%.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by cielpur

That's actually no longer true. Research has found that long-term use of antidepressants can cause a condition known as "tardiva dysphoria" and can actually worsen a person's existing depression.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...dive-dysphoria

For me to take this assertion seriously, I would need a reliable medical journal source. Psychology Today is not that.

FallDuskTrain, If I were you I would definitely speak with my pdoc about changing meds. Ten years on the same medication is a long time.

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

For me to take this assertion seriously, I would need a reliable medical journal source. Psychology Today is not that.

FallDuskTrain, If I were you I would definitely speak with my pdoc about changing meds. Ten years on the same medication is a long time.

Here you go, Laurie:

Tardive dysphoria: The role of long term antidepressant use in-inducing chronic depression - ScienceDirect

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by cielpur

Here you go, Laurie:

Tardive dysphoria: The role of long term antidepressant use in-inducing chronic depression - ScienceDirect

The concept of tardive dysphoria is still opinion. It has not been proven. At any rate, it seems to me that being on the same antidepressant for 10 years and feeling depressed/anxious warrants trying a new antidepressant.

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

The concept of tardive dysphoria is still opinion. It has not been proven. At any rate, it seems to me that being on the same antidepressant for 10 years and feeling depressed/anxious warrants trying a new antidepressant.

We'll have to agree to disagree then. FallDuskTrain, here is a full journal article that addresses it.

http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/...Nu1SK5Qv67U%3D

[FallDuskTrain]

Originally Posted by cielpur

We'll have to agree to disagree then. FallDuskTrain, here is a full journal article that addresses it.



http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/...Nu1SK5Qv67U%3D

Thank you for responding.
I am glad that I have found this forum. This is the first time, in more than a decade, people actually cared about my condition. So, thank you for caring. Thank you very much.

Originally Posted by FallDuskTrain

Thank you for responding.
I am glad that I have found this forum. This is the first time, in more than a decade, people actually cared about my condition. So, thank you for caring. Thank you very much.

I think antidepressants should be the option, not the rule, to treating mental illness. I have my own personal experience with antidepressants, and it wasn't a good one. It caused suicidal ideation, destroyed my thyroid, and gave me pancreatitis, and permanent heart damage. So, it didn't work for me at all.

Also, there is a great documentary available online called "Numb" about the horrible side effects of not titrating off long-term antidepressant use slowly enough. People in the documentary share their horror stories of the physical and mental side effects they experience during their antidepressant titration. Some of the people fail to get off their medication, whereas some succeed. So, if you ever decide to go off of your antidepressant, I highly recommend watching this documentary.

[*Laurie*]

FallDuskTrain, the depression and anxiety you've described is serious. The last thing you need at this time is for your treatment method to be stigmatized. Please speak with your psychiatrist about whether or not to change meds or to continue taking medication (or not). PC is a forum for support, not for medical diagnosis.

[FallDuskTrain]

Originally Posted by cielpur

I think antidepressants should be the option, not the rule, to treating mental illness. I have my own personal experience with antidepressants, and it wasn't a good one. It caused suicidal ideation, destroyed my thyroid, and gave me pancreatitis, and permanent heart damage. So, it didn't work for me at all.

Also, there is a great documentary available online called "Numb" about the horrible side effects of not titrating off long-term antidepressant use slowly enough. People in the documentary share their horror stories of the physical and mental side effects they experience during their antidepressant titration. Some of the people fail to get off their medication, whereas some succeed. So, if you ever decide to go off of your antidepressant, I highly recommend watching this documentary.

I will make sure to watch it.

[FallDuskTrain]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

FallDuskTrain, the depression and anxiety you've described is serious. The last thing you need at this time is for your treatment method to be stigmatized. Please speak with your psychiatrist about whether or not to change meds or to continue taking medication (or not). PC is a forum for support, not for medical diagnosis.

I know that but thank you for reminding. I m not taking any information supplied here as a medical diagnosis. Although they really help me with the support aspect

[winter loneliness]

I have never heard of morning depression. Can I recommend that you open the curtains immediately upon awakening? Maybe a shot of daylight will help.

[Shazerac]

Originally Posted by FallDuskTrain

I have majority depression and it has gradually gotten worse the last several years and recently, it has become intolerable.
My question is about the mornings. Every morning, there's no miss, I wake up with severe anxiety and cry for about 20-25 minutes before I force myself to get out of bed.
Can you share your experiences and how did you deal with your morning depression? Did you have a ritual? I need to figure this out otherwise I will lose my job.
Thank you in advance.

Many good ideas here. Improve your diet, exercise. Get a regular physical with blood work. Some meds have side effects that can effect the thyroid or get diabetes. Physical problems can cause depression or make it worse.Talk to your doc about changing meds, or taking a vacation from meds.

When all is said and done...Do what feels right for YOU.

Don't get caught up in every horror story on the internet. If you believe it all it will put you down, down on the ground!

[with or without you]

OP, I sort of know what you’re going through, I have been suffering from this for years and it’s gotten worse since going off a MAOI in March and a titration off benzos. I have a clinical diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder but I am worse in the mornings. I wake up most mornings in a state anywhere from annoying heart palpitations/chest tightness to outright panic attacks, “grey area” suicidal ideation, and crying. It doesn’t matter what day of the week it is and doesn’t just happen during my monthly cycle. It’s almost always with me.

I’ll tell you what I’ve found and things I’ve tried:

1) I have been suffering with chronic low back pain and gastritis concurrently with this, so I’ve had all the bloodwork in the world done. No abnormalities. I had a sleep study in August and they diagnosed me with mild sleep apnea. I only had one outright stop in breathing, but over 30 times my oxygen levels dropped below 85% which is not good and my neurologist said it was enough to be concerning. I am having another sleep study done in 3 weeks with mild C-Pap intervention this time (nasal mask only) to see how I do. They are aware of my morning “spells” and mood. Maybe a sleep study is something you could consider. By the way, no one sleeps well during a sleep study but they can still gather enough data. I feel that it was worth the hassle, I scheduled it on a Friday night so I slept it off the next day.

2) I had to have an upper endoscopy last month because of the gastritis I mentioned above. My gastro wanted to make sure I did not have any ulcers, polyps, lesions, bacteria, celiac disease, you name it. He didn’t find anything serious other than the obvious stomach inflammation, but his biopsy of my esophagus showed evidence of GERD and heartburn. I had no idea I had reflux or heartburn at all because I didn’t feel the symptoms. They told me that acid reflux/heartburn can “present” as heart palps/chest pain and not always that classic burning feeling. Like you, I have a big appetite for sugar and inflammatory foods but I have made some changes. I still get the anxiety attacks in the mornings but I feel like I can ride out the discomfort.

3) I started going to acupuncture in May for my back pain, but it turned out that helped with my anxiety. My acupuncturist asked me if mornings were stressful in my household growing up, and after I thought about it I realized they were...I never wanted to eat anything in the mornings (I still don’t but I force it).

4) My psychiatrist told me to use a light box every morning for 30 minutes. I’ll admit that I’m lazy about this one.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that I empathize with you and that there could be other things in play besides the psychological depression. I know that part of my horrific anxiety is due to the fact that I’m having trouble finding the right antidepressant (which I need to be on) and the titration off benzos, but there is definitely more going on here. All of this stuff is connected (sleep affects depression and anxiety in a major way and it is underrated). Good luck.

[Rose76]

I'm just finding this thread now. I'm very interested in the topic, as I've been having an increasing problem with morning depression. I like the idea about having coffee near the bed. I'm not even a coffee drinker. But I bought some canned Starbuck's Doubleshot Expresso. (Kind of expensive.) I'm thinking of buying a ciffee brewer and some high caffeine coffee.

So it's nice to meet a fellow sufferer of this morning curse. I've long felt that depression can be toughest in the morning, but currently, it has gotten so it's a nightmare. Sometimes, when I get to feeling okay in the evening, I just stay awake all night because I dread waking up in the pit again.

[FallDuskTrain]

Originally Posted by Rose76

I'm just finding this thread now. I'm very interested in the topic, as I've been having an increasing problem with morning depression. I like the idea about having coffee near the bed. I'm not even a coffee drinker. But I bought some canned Starbuck's Doubleshot Expresso. (Kind of expensive.) I'm thinking of buying a ciffee brewer and some high caffeine coffee.

So it's nice to meet a fellow sufferer of this morning curse. I've long felt that depression can be toughest in the morning, but currently, it has gotten so it's a nightmare. Sometimes, when I get to feeling okay in the evening, I just stay awake all night because I dread waking up in the pit again.

I just saw this... Try Death Wish Coffee. It has a very high caffeine content and it is very gentle on the stomach (not acidic) https://www.deathwishcoffee.com/