Negative thoughts DURING naps/sleep - increased anxiety...

[CaliGuy]

Hey all,

I've heard lots of people talk about increased anxiety/panic in the morning. Also, have heard people complain they feel worse after a nap. (Even non-anxious people.)

Just wondering if anyone has experienced this...

Laying down for a nap or sleep... and as sleep onset comes... strong negative, frustrating thoughts... perhaps fearful as well. I can lay down in a calm, happy state relatively... and as the mind starts to drift, tons of negative scenarios come up. (Can be anything, something real and related to life or random.)

It's like automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) ... but during a semi-awake state.

It's so bizarre, the mood can shift from totally fine to very disturbed and fearful after even a 30 min nap.

Anyone experience similar?

[NancyW]

I wake in the middle of the night and feel a terrible feeling of dread.
It's awful.

[CaliGuy]

Hi Nancy,

Yeah I’ve heard a lot of people waking in the middle of the night with issues. Even non anxious people. For me it’s more a morning thing - but it’s odd it can happen during a nap as well.

Best I can figure it is a type of burn-off from stressful periods. The mind almost seems like it’s calibrating by generating and releasing these negative and fearful random thoughts.
If we react with fear it makes it worse of course. So practicing allowing is what I try to do.
The thoughts and tone of thinking always does seem to correct itself.