Morning misery

[Fortheloveoftwirls]

I'm normally a pretty upbeat person apart from the first couple of hours of each day. Once awake I feel worried and anxious and any small problem seems insurmountable. After a couple of hours this wears off and I regain my perspective and feel normal again but for those first one or two hours each day I'm really unhappy.

So my AIBU (and I know it's got nothing to do with being unreasonable but I am posting here in the hope of getting a few replies rather than posting it in a more obscure thread with tumbleweed rolling by) is a) does anyone else ever feel like this and b) can anyone suggest anything that might help?

Thanks lovely mumsnetters - you are always usually so good at helping me with my problems.

I get that same feeling. Always in the morning, then when I get out of bed & start on things, then it doesn't seem so bad.
I've never been depressed or even a cup half empty person, this morning gloom is just horrid. Coffee and a hot shower help.

Can u chge ur routine in morning- something like a quick 5 r 10 min walk around d the block for wh?

Know what you mean!
I wake up in the early hours worrying about ridiculous things and catastrophysing the lot!
It's annoying and uncomfortable but not uncommon and knowing that helps a bit.
Sorry not to offer any solutions but thanks for starting the thread!

Aww thanks @chickydoo - just knowing one other person feels the same actually makes me feel a lot better as I'm hoping it's an actual thing rather than just me. I'm sorry that you have to suffer it too though and agree caffeine (and toast) and a shower helps.

And thanks also @saoirse31and @rosamacrose - just seen your replies too.

How do you wake up?

I mean, do you wake up naturally with the daylight or do you sleep in a pitch black room and are jolted awake by an alarm?

Could there be something there, if your body isn't ready to be awake. I find that things are easier if I'm awoken by the light. So a sunrise alarmay be useful if you're the same.

I think. getting busy helps.

If the little one gets up early, get up and out for a walk, watch the sun come up, enjoy the quiet.
If you've a dog, take it for a walk.

Or just get out of the house alone and have a stroll.

Is this particularly at this time of year? I find these darker mornings mean you don't have a spring in your step. What about a light box, you can get them cheap on Amazon and use for 10 min first thing, my daughter uses one and she seems to think it works for getting up in the dark and improving your mood. I agree with everyone- tip yourself out of bed, shower, get moving and going. Music? Or perhaps just accepting this is the way you are and know that it will pass.

Biologically I think it's to do with your cortisol levels rising in the morning... Could you talk to your doc? Or try some natural supplement for stress/cortisol?

I think pp ideas about building a good routine are sound. I'm doing this at the moment instead of yoga and I honestly love it - it's relaxing and energising and there's a free trial www.holdenqigong.com/

Can you get a sunrise alarm clock that should wake you up when in a lighter sleep phase rather than a heavier one?

I struggle with this. It's because I get woken up every single day by the children. They are small, it's not their fault, but I never get to wake naturally. On the rare occasion I wake up AND can sneak out of bed without them waking, I get a cuppa and have 15 minutes to myself, I feel so much better.

Sadly, it seems like I only have to open an eye and they're awake. And FULL OF ENERGY.

Thanks all. I think the fact I usually wake up after only about 5 hours sleep doesn't help. On the rare occasion I sleep for 7 or 8 hours I don't feel as bad. I have ordered a light box just now though as I think that will help as it's been worse since summer disappeared! Thanks again and if anyone has any more thoughts please let me know.

Cortisol and routine, also body sugar levels. Can drop during sleep and be low when you wake, it makes you depressed and/or snappy. Once level rises, you feel OK and back to your normal self....

Me too...my anxiety is hideous in the early hours...once I'm awake properly and get up I feel much better.

I take one propanalol tablet a day for exactly this; I wake early (naturally) take it and read or listen to something on the radio for half an hour then can usually get another lovely couple of hours kip in. Makes a huge difference!

I also have a lavender pillow spray but no idea if it actually does anything, it’s very relaxing though!

I also have a sunrise/sunset alarm clock you can set to purr to send you gently to sleep as the light fades out which is the best thing ever!

How old are you OP? I had never felt like this until I became peri menopausal. It really is a horrible feeling, ImI am now over the worst of the menopause, I hope, and it has more or less stopped happening. So I guess it is a hormone thing?