Posted , 3 users are following.
Suffering with anxiety (edgy, restless, rapid breathing, tummy ache) when I wake up each morning. No obvious thing that I feel worried about. Does seem to get better by the evening.
Any tips on how to cope with it - aside from medication (tried Sertraline and made it worse plus stomqch issues)?
Thanks
0 likes, 5 replies
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jan34534 pete55308
Edited
anxiety is definitely an unwelcomed intruder! One of the reasons people feel more anxious in the morning is because the stress hormone cortisol builds up overnight as we sleep.
The main thing that I do that is the most effective way of relieving, the anxiety is definitely exercise! When I get back from doing that, it takes about an hour or so to kick in and then I feel so relaxed and calm!
if I do wake up with anxiety, I put on a soothing meditation for anxiety.
another thing that helps is when you get out of bed with anxiety jump around a little bit move your arms up and down rapidly. In other words, move the body! That helps because it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the opposite of the sympathetic nervous system, which causes anxiety.
another way to activate the parasympathetic system is to splash your face with cold water, or even take a cool shower.
I also stay away from caffeine and sugar, junk foods.
pete55308 jan34534
Posted
Thank you so much for your reply - I will try all of those. It's a bit of a mystery as to why I feel the anxiety at all - but I wonder if it's a bit of a vicious cycle as bad tummy ache / loose bowels makes me worry about my health. I will try the meditation, exercise etc. and hopefully that will work. I might also be suffering from withdrawal from the sertraline too so hopefully that will ease as time goes on.
Any other tips from others appreciated - but I really am thankful to Jan for the reply!
angela55814 pete55308
Posted
Hi
wondered how you are feeling now I have exactly the same thing. I do suffer from health anxiety which has got much worse since my husband died in his sleep two years ago. I wake up feeling really anxious and sweaty and also loose bowels for most of the morning. I’ve also lost my appetite and feel pretty rotten. I have been to the doctors and my blood test were fine and they seem to just put it down to anxiety and depression but im depressed because i feel like this. Ive everything relaxing thing going . I didnt realise anxiety could make me feel like this. Hope you are doing ok.
pete55308 angela55814
Posted
Hi Angela
I completely sympathise. I lost my wife 6 years ago to cancer (she was diagnosed at just 26 and we went through 6 years of very tough times) and even though I'm happy in my job, family, friends and girlfriend, I think all of those experiences have also left me with a health anxiety (a vicious cycle when anxiety gives you physical symptoms). I didn't get on with Sertraline so have been off that for 10 days, so my anxiety may be partly caused by the withdrawal, but essentially I still feel pretty rotten.
My plan is to continue to get out of bed quicker, get more exercise and eat a healthy breakfast to try to 'burn off' the cortisol awakening response. I also take the odd propranalol tablet when my heart is racing. By the evening I often feel better, especially when busier.
By the way, just because it didn't work for me, I know anti depressants do help lots of others.
Good luck!
angela55814 pete55308
Posted
Thank you so much for your reply. Its the appetite thing that worries me the most. I find myself with it on my mind constantly. In my mind its because of me having something awful but the Drs think not. I have to force myself to eat and dont fancy anything or get hungry.
My Dr doubled my Mirtazapine tablet which supposedly helps with appetite but it hasnt helped. Similar thing happened six months after my husband died, but not for this long. I am going to the doctor again next week as it’s the appetite that is depressing me the most. Thank you again for your reply and hope you feel better soon .