Why are the mornings the worst feeling

[Debx]

Why are the mornings the worst? I hate being left alone in the mornings its really getting to me like a big black cloud. As the morning goes on it does get better but its such a battle. I hate going to bed during the week as I know I have to face the " morning feeling".

Also, last night I went to bed ( fairly calmly for me) but during the night about 4am I woke up to find the churning stomach uneasy feeling even though I had just woke up... my symptoms are there even though I wasn't particulary anxious? This has been happening a lot recently as if its become my body's routine whether I'm anxious or not.. which sets me off on what if it is something else ( even though I know it won't be )

I can't enjoy my sleep anymore even at weekends when I know I won't be alone in the mornings. I'm getting really fed up with the daily grind of this, I do try to stay calm and positive but lately thats become a struggle.

I'm on Proponol 40mg x 1 but that doesn't seem to be helping at all with the physical symptoms...plus my appetite has gone so I have lost loads of weight. 4 weeks in and it seems to be getting worse! So fed up x

[nicola1980]

Hi im exactly the same in the mornings i hate it! I always wake at 5 with the same anxiety feelings, i even retch sometimes cause of how im feeling! I can go to bed calm but always wake the same! I think its habit now and i expect it, started on citalopram 4 weeks ago so hoping it will ease soon! Maybe go and see your doc again? Nicola xx

[Debx]

Thanks Nicola,

I'm off to see GP today , this morning was awful again, lots of feelings of unable to cope alone ect started at 5ish by the time 8am came I was a wreck ... I took the dogs out and that eased it a bit. When the day goes on it does becomes better.

The problem is I am scared about medication and the side effects, I tried Citalopram and had a big panic attack so frightened to take anything else incase the same happens but at the same time I am so fed up of feeling like this I need to break the cycle... I've got counselling session tomorrow hopefully that will help, thanks for you advice, I was supposed to go back to work this week but that is a way off I think.... x

[haz]

That's the six million dollar question that many, many people would love to know the answer to . But there have been loads of posts on this site about people being much worse in the mornings. I feel as if I need to "cancel my day" (even if it's only a doctor's appt) practically every morning but I know if I just get out of bed, take my meds, breakfast, shower etc. I'll eventually start to feel better after a couple of hours.

Regards. x

[rocklover]

Why are the mornings the worst? I hate being left alone in the mornings its really getting to me like a big black cloud. As the morning goes on it does get better but its such a battle. I hate going to bed during the week as I know I have to face the " morning feeling".

Also, last night I went to bed ( fairly calmly for me) but during the night about 4am I woke up to find the churning stomach uneasy feeling even though I had just woke up... my symptoms are there even though I wasn't particulary anxious? This has been happening a lot recently as if its become my body's routine whether I'm anxious or not.. which sets me off on what if it is something else ( even though I know it won't be )

I can't enjoy my sleep anymore even at weekends when I know I won't be alone in the mornings. I'm getting really fed up with the daily grind of this, I do try to stay calm and positive but lately thats become a struggle.

I'm on Proponol 40mg x 1 but that doesn't seem to be helping at all with the physical symptoms...plus my appetite has gone so I have lost loads of weight. 4 weeks in and it seems to be getting worse! So fed up x

Oh my God you could be me!! I wake up every day between 4 and 4.30 with a churning tummy, horrible nausea, a knot in my upper tummy and feelings of dread. I usually go on to have a panic attack which it takes ages to recover from.

I am anxious and feel sick most of the day, but it does get better as the day wears on. I can go to bed feeling calm, but know I will wake up feeling crap.

I tried Citalopram again last week as I was in despair, but a 5mg dose made me feel so ill I knew i couldn't take it long term, especially as last time I was on it I took 3 months to get any benefit from it. I am having CBT, but really struggling to do things myself, but i am going to keep trying.

[M155anthr0p3]

I used to feel like this. I also took prop but found it did nothing for me.
It's the fear and dread of the day ahead. I used to vomit as well.
Things are now slowly getting better....a few bad days rather than every day being a bad day.
Dont be scared, just accept your feelings for what they are. Fighting is the worst thing you can do.
If I can do it (nervous wreck, couldn't go out etc etc) then so can you. 7 months it's taken but I believed in me.
Believe in yourself!!

Thinking of you


Xxx

[Debx]

thanks for all your replies it really helps knowing that your not on your own when going through this, it gives me a bit of hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I worry about my weight, as I have lost a stone as I can't seem to eat and this is making me feel ill in itself, I always had a good appetite but its just falling away now . I know if I could eat and sleep properly then I would feel so much better. The GP prescribed me Mitazapine to help me sleep, gain weight and improve my overall mood ( wonder pill ! ) but I haven't taken it yet ( scared stiff ). I saw my counsellor yesterday for the 1st time and today I start CCBT through Making Space Charity it specialises in anxiety and panic attacks, please check this out as it is a free computerised or classroom based therapy programme in various areas not sure if it is available in all areas but you can find it online. Take care everyone x

[rocklover]

I used to feel like this. I also took prop but found it did nothing for me.
It's the fear and dread of the day ahead. I used to vomit as well.
Things are now slowly getting better....a few bad days rather than every day being a bad day.
Dont be scared, just accept your feelings for what they are. Fighting is the worst thing you can do.
If I can do it (nervous wreck, couldn't go out etc etc) then so can you. 7 months it's taken but I believed in me.
Believe in yourself!!

Thinking of you


Xxx

I have had this now for 6 months and I am getting very despondent as I don't seem to be strong enough to cure myself. I have tried meds, one of which made me worse, the other didn't really do anything.

My biggest problem is that I have a fear of vomiting and the constant nausea I have is debilitating. I admire you so much for being so strong, I am finding acceptance very hard.

[potato11]

Hi Deb

I think there are a lot of people in a similar situation! I've had that dreaded morning feeling too, as well as waking in the early hours with it. Whilst I haven't been sick, I've certainly felt rubbish and hopeless with it!

From what I've learnt, the 'morning feeling' is likely to be caused by the fact that the morning represents a new day - a new day in which you are still suffering from this 'dreaded thing', when you had hoped it would be 'gone'. So, your reaction is one of disappointment and fear, because you presume your entire day is going to be 'miserable' and similar to the previous bad experiences you have had with panic/anxiety.

The number one bugbear of mine with anxiety was the CONSTANT niggle of 'something' - even if I wasn't conscious of breathing, or having a panic attack, the constant 'feeling' in my stomach/chest was there - the one of "something isn't right heerreee.. don't ignore me.. who knows what I'll turn into?"

The key thing to learn when overcoming anxiety/panic is to not be afraid of panic. Just like M155anthr0p3 said, its the fear of panic and it's symptoms that causes it!! very ironic. You can discuss various symptoms til the cows come home, but its very unlikely you'll experience relief from them until you can band them ALL under the umbrella of anxiety - you'll learn to identify the "Tap" instead of looking at the various bits of water in attempt to understand why you feel the way you do.

I used to focus on things like, WHY is my breathing weird - why am I always aware of it, why do have to keep taking deep breaths etc - and whilst reading about others experiences, learning 'belly breathing' and everything helped somewhat - it still unnerved me that it was THERE. But then I learnt (from a couple of website sources) that me being anxious about the breathing is what caused it. Once i stopped using the 'safety' behaviours of trying to take a deep breath, sitting down, drinking a glass of water etc, I learnt that the 'breathing thing' wasn't going to cause me any harm so i lost my fear of it (gradually) and it no longer happens because i'm not scared of it. Once or twice it has come back - but now I know what it is, so I don't mind and quickly get over it because I understand instead of fear.

One fantastic source for CBT is the website

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=91696 < Please use the link to the appropriate thread on No More Panic.

It was recommended on here a couple of days a go, it is a brilliant learning tool for understanding anxiety and thus helping you to lose your fear of it. I can honestly say it has really helped me, I've had the calmest two days in over a year!! And this is with me running a busy clinic this morning (I am a third year student midwife, with a dissertation to complete also lol)

In overcoming panic you learn to 'live in the moment' - a valuable tool for life in general. Waking with panic/dread are symptoms of worrying about what is going to happen in the future, which takes you away from the present moment. When you overcome this, you'll see that living life in the moment is much more rewarding

Best of luck, feel free to PM me for any support

[rocklover]

Hi Deb

I think there are a lot of people in a similar situation! I've had that dreaded morning feeling too, as well as waking in the early hours with it. Whilst I haven't been sick, I've certainly felt rubbish and hopeless with it!

From what I've learnt, the 'morning feeling' is likely to be caused by the fact that the morning represents a new day - a new day in which you are still suffering from this 'dreaded thing', when you had hoped it would be 'gone'. So, your reaction is one of disappointment and fear, because you presume your entire day is going to be 'miserable' and similar to the previous bad experiences you have had with panic/anxiety.

The number one bugbear of mine with anxiety was the CONSTANT niggle of 'something' - even if I wasn't conscious of breathing, or having a panic attack, the constant 'feeling' in my stomach/chest was there - the one of "something isn't right heerreee.. don't ignore me.. who knows what I'll turn into?"

The key thing to learn when overcoming anxiety/panic is to not be afraid of panic. Just like M155anthr0p3 said, its the fear of panic and it's symptoms that causes it!! very ironic. You can discuss various symptoms til the cows come home, but its very unlikely you'll experience relief from them until you can band them ALL under the umbrella of anxiety - you'll learn to identify the "Tap" instead of looking at the various bits of water in attempt to understand why you feel the way you do.

I used to focus on things like, WHY is my breathing weird - why am I always aware of it, why do have to keep taking deep breaths etc - and whilst reading about others experiences, learning 'belly breathing' and everything helped somewhat - it still unnerved me that it was THERE. But then I learnt (from a couple of website sources) that me being anxious about the breathing is what caused it. Once i stopped using the 'safety' behaviours of trying to take a deep breath, sitting down, drinking a glass of water etc, I learnt that the 'breathing thing' wasn't going to cause me any harm so i lost my fear of it (gradually) and it no longer happens because i'm not scared of it. Once or twice it has come back - but now I know what it is, so I don't mind and quickly get over it because I understand instead of fear.

One fantastic source for CBT is the website

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=91696 < Please use the link to the appropriate thread on No More Panic.

It was recommended on here a couple of days a go, it is a brilliant learning tool for understanding anxiety and thus helping you to lose your fear of it. I can honestly say it has really helped me, I've had the calmest two days in over a year!! And this is with me running a busy clinic this morning (I am a third year student midwife, with a dissertation to complete also lol)

In overcoming panic you learn to 'live in the moment' - a valuable tool for life in general. Waking with panic/dread are symptoms of worrying about what is going to happen in the future, which takes you away from the present moment. When you overcome this, you'll see that living life in the moment is much more rewarding

Best of luck, feel free to PM me for any support

Hi Potato, I have just signed up for this course and so far Robin has been really helpful giving me lots of support. The info hasn't started my recovery yet as I haven't got to the stage where I can remember all the tips and tricks.

I am still fighting the panic (even though I don't mean to) and I'm finding acceptance pretty difficult, I don't quite understand how to do that yet. I can't wait for the day that I just don't care about panic or nausea, I'm sure I'll get there, but I think it will probably take a while.

I'm really glad CBT4Panic worked for you, it gives me hope.