Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
Hello Everyone - This is my first post on this site and I am a bit hesitant and I know typing this that it's going to make me upset. I am a 38 year old male, married with 2 kids (6 & 12). I have a great job and my wife does as well as a nurse. Last September I went thru a mental breakdown (as I call it) and a very deep depression and anxiety swam over me. I have been dealing with panic disorder and anxiety since I was 20, but this was my first run at depression...lucky me :). The depression created so much anxiety that, on my birthday, I checked myself into a hospital. They were no help and sent me home as soon as they determined I wasn't a threat to myself or anyone else.
It took me about 5 months for the depression to slowly ease out of my life and all thru the summer I was a very happy guy....very energetic, outgoing, hopeful. I started going back to my old habits with drinking every weekend and smoking marijuana occassionally. What an awful idea that was. about 1 1/2 months ago, after a night of heavy drinking, I had one of the worst panic attacks of my life and I could feel the depression wash over me once again. I was so upset at myself for ruining this wonderful happiness that I had created. I was back at square 1.
My phyciatrist increased my dosage of lexapro to 20mg and told me to take xanax as needed. Sorry for the long message, but here is my main hardship and was wondering if anyone else has had these feelings?
My depression and anxiety is always the worst in the morning. As the day goes on, the awful feelings seem to get better and better...even to the point of them being non existant in the evening before bedtime. I sleep great throughout the night, but as soon as I wake up the hammer punch of depression and anxiety is right there. Can anyone relate to this? Has anyone been able to figure out a solution to this issue?
Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated. I am grateful to have found this site and I hope I can be of support to you all as well. Tough journey we are all in...especially during these unstable times.
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I haven't written in my diary on my computer since May because I thought that my computer was dying. I got away from writing but my computer is hanging in there. I think that I will start writing in it again. It's so therapeutic.
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Years ago, I won a mirrored armoire from my job. It's in my bedroom but I rarely stand in front of it. Yesterday, I had to have a dexascan done so I had to change into a gown. There was a full length mirror in the changing room. I'm aware that I gained 5 to 7 pounds over the last year from cheating on Keto but I didn't know what it looked like. It was a reality check.
The pattern of thinking I have conquered my inner demons to discovering I was premature in declaring myself, "Cured" is all too familiar to me. The good news is that after I got over the disappointment, I discovered I wasn't really "back to square one." The lessons I learned which stabilized me enough to give me the delusion of "Being Cured" were still with me. I was able to pick up where I left off and discovered that the therapy network which helped me in the last go-round were still there for me.
I hope you won't let yourself be too disappointed in the setback.
Steadying support while you work it through, whichever way you decide works best for you. Welcome aboard.
Sometimes if we squash down anxious or stressful thoughts during the day, they come out somewhere, as in nightmares or panic when you first wake up.
I was getting bad panic attacks the second I woke up, but I was dealing with a very stressful situation in my life at the time. Is there anything else you can think of that you are going through that might be causing stress and anxiety? And that you try not to think about that thing all day? That could be why it's coming out in your sleep.
A therapist might be able to guide you through what is really bothering you.
The only things that I can think of is that my wife is not around during the day. She is my safety person. That being said, I still have these issues on the weekends when she is not working.
It's a very sad and lonely place every morning but throughout the day it gets better. I guess I can be thankful for that?
Provide your space with a specific routine for wake-up. This will give you a starting point to work through the anxiety that you notice first thing in the morning.
Take sips first thing in the morning. Getting up and moving round and getting some light to help wake up often releases the "..." .
Best wishes as you find your better balance.
Unfortunately, I don't know what causes it. Maybe, like hypergal was saying, it's all the morning hormones kicking it. But, when I'm feeling really anxious, everything seems to be turned up to 11 (or maybe 12 or 13), so that "get up and go" becomes something far worse.
I, too, recently had a flare up of anxiety that had been in "remission", or whatever you want to call it, for like 7 years. It's getting back under control now, but I completely sympathize with what you're going through. You're not in this alone.
But once the stressful event calmed down a little, I have less panic and nightmares upon waking. Still getting them, just not every night.
Ryan, I would suggest to keep working with your therapist to figure out what is the root of what is bothering you. That would make sense if your wife is at work or going to work.... I get that way, too, when I can't reach my "safe person", so I understand. I just try to get up and get busy with stuff right away.
Or I come on here, to Daily Strength and start reading posts :) That helps me.
And yes, be thankful you don't have them all day. We have to find the little things in life that we are happy for each day. Focusing on the positive. Best wishes!
I have also fought the mornings, waking up in full panic and anxiety. Then as the day wore on I got better. I slept very well at night, only to experience that major anxiety in the morning again. My dr said put the Xanax by your bed and when you open your eyes take it. I have done that and it has helped fight that morning gloom. I just don’t understand why in the morning.
I hope Ryan that you find what will get you through this part of your life.