Sense of doom in the morning

[partyetiquette]

I don't know if this is a perimenopause feeling or just generalised anxiety disorder but recently, I've been waking each morning with the sense that something is wrong. My first 5 minutes of being awake are me telling myself that nothing bad has happened. Anyone dealt with this? And how did you do it?

I get this too. Not sure if it is peri but I've had a lot of health issues so always feel like the next bad thing is about to happen. The only thing that has helped a bit is medication (sertraline).

Yes. This came out of the blue for me after never experiencing similar before. Started HRT and it improved greatly

I feel like that sometimes, and just put it down to increased cortisol levels at that time of the morning.

Bloody Hell, I thought this was just me!
Is it a menopause system, that makes me feel much better.

It's so nice to know others have this feeling too! Bloody perimenopause makes me feel mad!!

Yes, I do too, it passes quite quickly but I find I need to run a check in my mind, are the children ok, have I got any appointments today.Is there food in the fridge, have I got money in the bank . Woe betide if I stick the news on straight away . This menopause shit ain’t easy !!

I get this too. Started pre menopause. It's the most godawful feeling of doom and despair. It passes fairly quickly with me but it's still horrible and makes me feel as if I need to hide in bed all day.

I’m way past menopause, and I get this occasionally in the mornings. I put it down to advancing age and increased health anxiety. Lots of health issues in the last few years; even though they’re mostly resolved, I sometimes can’t get rid of the feeling that I’m not the person I was, if that makes any sense.

I occasionally wake up like this but I’m nowhere near peri age.

I think it’s because I’ve suddenly woken up.

Yep it’s the hormones. I found taking an antihistamine before bed helps. No idea why but after taking one for a few weeks it’s really helped. Someone on here recommended it. I’ve been on HRT for years.

Wow I totally get this. I feel.like the real me, the young normal happy me has been buried in this new person

I get this too - often wake up about an hour before I need to be up, and suddenly a tidal wave of every bad thing that has ever/is currently happening to me all at once.

I'm in peri but have been happily on hrt for years.

Will try an antihistamine before bed, thanks pp.

@partyetiquette, it's a curious feeling, that's for sure, and I only wish it were more predictable. I actually spoke to my GP about it as part of a whole raft of health problems a few years ago and ended up with a prescription for Mirtazapine. This seemed to flatten my mood a bit and helped me sleep a little better but did nothing to help the odd periodic "disconnected" sensation.

To be honest, simple mindfulness exercises helped as much as anything - there's a huge amount of guidance on the Internet, pick something which appeals to you and try it! - as did increasing my level of physical activity.
I'm very lucky in that I was able to retire last year, and saw an immediate drop in my overall stress level. I know that a lot of my health anxiety was work-related, and it helped enormously that my employer wasn't breathing down my neck any more.

Sorry, bit of a ramble there and probably no real help at all, but my thoughts are with you. Looks like there are a few of us dealing with similar issues.

Take care.

I would often get sudden out of the blue anxiety at about 2pm after lunch at work - racing heart, wondering if the kids are OK, or panicking that I'll make a massive slip up in my job. And then again at about 2am - impending doom, I'm a failure, I can't get a grip.

This cycle completely stopped when I started hrt. I still have the odd feelings of not being as 'on it' as I used to be, or worrying that my son might have an accident, but they are just fleeting and manageable. No doom, no panic.

@HikinghighLine that’s fascinating! What antihistamine do you take?

Loratadine just the allergy hayfever one. It helps with sleep as well I read something about reducing the reaction to drop in hormones. Honestly after waking up consistently around 3am I was willing to. try anything and it’s helped. @haho

I’ve never been a morning person and struggle to wake early. I hate waking up and getting out of bed. I wouldn’t say I have a sense of impending doom but I often have a sinking/depressed feeling. Usually by the time I’ve had a shower (which I have straight after brushing my teeth) I feel a lot better. I’m 40 so could be hormones but I feel I’ve always been this way. Kind of like having SAD but all year round!

@HikinghighLine I'm going to try the antihistamine, so thanks for the tip. I already take sertraline but I wake up every morning feeling sick.
This is a new phenomenon for me ! Just the usual health problems for my age. (72) But my anxiety is really bad these past few weeks.

@MarxistMags my DD takes sertraline and often wakes up feeling nauseous so it maybe that? We reduced her dose and it’s helped abit. Hope you find some relief. If it’s bloody sugar dropping a lite snack before bed May help?