Morning Anxiety Attacks

Anxiety is Worse in the Mornings

Morning anxiety attacks are common with people who suffer from generalized anxiety disorder. It feels like when you first wake up and put your feet on the floor the anxiety attack sets in. If you are one who suffers from morning anxiety, then you know that it is not alot of fun.You feel like things around you are not real. I can remember feeling like I could jump out of my skin. I would find that around 10 in the morning, my anxiety would finally settle down a little.

What causes Morning Anxiety?

Morning Anxiety is due to the cortisol levels that have been rising when you were asleep. When you first wake up, your cortisol levels are at their highest. Cortisol is the stress hormone that your body releases when you are under alot of stress. When you suffer from generalized disorder, you are always at a high level of stress until you learn how to cope with the condition.

What happens when the cortisol is released in the morning is you worry about why you feel so intense. From your worrying, your body releases more cortisol, which raises your anxiety level. Before you know it, you are caught up in this vicious cycle of morning anxiety.You will find yourself afraid to go to sleep at night from dread of the next morning.

Another cause of morning anxiety is low blood sugar. You must maintain a normal blood glucose level because this is the fuel for the brain. When your glucose levels drop while you are sleeping, this sends a signal to your your brain to trigger the "fight or flight" response. This is a built in mechanism to our brains to protect us from danger. However, when you suffer from anxiety, it is like torture.

When the "fight or flight " response is triggered your body releases all kind of anxiety producing chemicals. Adrenaline and cortisol are released through your body. This is to prepare your body for the "perceived" threat. Although there is no real threat, you have convinced your brain that there is, as a result, chemicals are released and your anxiety keeps rising.

The main reason you have these morning anxiety attacks is from anticipatory anxiety. This is caused from you remembering the previous morning and all evening you worry about what is going to happen the next morning. This type of "what if" thinking causes the attacks. In reality, you are causing the attack to happen to yourself. I will explain later how to stop this vicious cycle. What you must know is, you will not die from an anxiety attack. You may feel like you will, but noone has ever died from one.

Physical Symptoms of Morning Anxiety Attacks

When you have a morning anxiety attack, you have many physical symptoms. You may begin trembling and sweating. Your heart rate may speed up to the point that you think you are having a heart attack. Things may not feel real. You will feel like you are in a dream state. This is the brains way of protecting you. other symptoms that you might experiencing are:

1. racing thoughts
2. blurred vision
3. impaired judgment
4. fear of dying or losing control
5. fear of impending doom
6. vomiting
7. diarrhea
8. insomnia
9. constipation
10. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Stopping Your Morning Anxiety Attacks

So now you know what is happening to you, but the question remains on how to stop this vicious cycle. First of all, you have to stop the anticipatory anxiety. When you worry about what is going to happen the next day, you cause it to happen. Start thinking more positive thoughts. Here are some examples:

* When I wake up, I am going to feel fine
* It is only anxiety, it will pass
* I am fine, I am not going to die.

Positive thinking plays a major role in overcoming anxiety. Get a journal and write down your thoughts each day. Try to replace all of your negative thoughts with positive thoughts. Also, set goals that are reachable. The goals can be to walk for 5 minutes in the morning (this really helps to lower anxiety levels), or to sit outside and take note of nature. Whatever your goals are, make them realistic goals.

Now, for the part of waking up and stopping the anxiety. First of all, you may want to put some crackers on the nightstand beside you and eat a few when you first wake up. This will help to raise your sugar levels and also stop the nausea. Next, after you have consumed a few crackers, sit up on the side of the bed for a few minutes. This will keep you from getting dizzy.

Once you get out of bed, and you start to feel anxious, talk to yourself. This is the most important thing you can do to stop your morning anxiety attacks. Tell yourself positive things, like "I am fine, it is just anxiety and it will pass." The more you do this, eventually your anxiety will go away.

Each morning write in your journal of your attacks and how you dealt with them. Write down your negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts. When you feel like things are not real, ignore this feeling, don't feed it. By ignoring it, you are programming your brain that there is no real threat. Eventually these feelings will go away.

Get out and exercise. Start slow and work your way up. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins that make you feel good. Furthermore, exercise is proven to reduce anxiety and stress. Find things you enjoy to do. Read a good book, or find a hobby. You can overcome this. I know first hand how devastating morning anxiety attacks are. I do not have them anymore. If you follow these steps laid out for you, you too will overcome the attacks and live a normal life again.

I wish you well on your journey to overcoming your morning anxiety attacks. Walk down the road to freedom and happiness. Good Luck.