Anxiety Tips

[Gerijrich]

Hi does anyone have any tips for dealing with anxiety as you wake up.

Thank you

I have never had anxiety so I may not be able to help.

However my thoughts on waking and when I go to sleep are often a bit silly. Sort of part dream/part awake. In short, not worht the paper they are written on iyswim.
And I ignore them.
Quite frankly I dont make any major decisions or many minor ones either for that matter, untill I have had a cup of tea and breakfast.

hth

Force yourself to get out of bed as soon as the alarm goes and then get straight in a hot shower with something you like the smell of. Helps me a lot. Feels like I have achieved something.

Have you tried a relaxation CD? I have one which talks you through the process, and some of the techniques are quite quick. It might help. Also I got a book from the library called Overcoming Anxiety (recommended by the NHS apparently) which has some useful ideas in it. I think some of the stuff in the book is available free online somewhere.

YumYum's tactic is actually what I use as well. Luckily mornings aren't my worst time, but giving myself no time to start mulling over anything when I first wake up works a treat for me. I have quite a specific morning routine, too, so I don't even have to think about what I'm doing.

Start the morning by being thankful.

List all the things you have to be grateful for. These can be anything at all, like the warm bed you slept in, the fact that you have the gift of sight when you open your eyes, the daylight coming in the window. Clean water when you run the tap....

Counting the blessings that we have , however small can give us a sense of wellbeing that can push away the anxiety thoughts which want to crowd in.

I find lying in bed for a while and just looking out the window (and taking a diazepam - small dose) helps a bit. Also there is the breathing thing - shorter in-breaths and longer outbreaths, feeling the belly rise and fall with the breaths.

Sorry but when I wake feeling shite and anxious I don't feel like being thankful, nor do I want to list the things I have to be grateful for..........but each to their own.