Horrible Morning Anxiety

[littleflybuzz]

I've been suffering from morning anxiety for about 6 months on and off now. When I wake up I feel like I can't breathe - thoughts racing, heart pounding - sheer panic. It's very distressing and I feel like I'm going mad.

I'm on Sertraline 50mg (went up from 25mg) and my doctor wants me to go up to 75mg. I've been worried the sertraline is causing these horrible physical symptoms but she says it's not - it's just the anxiety. I've tried Buspirone and propranolol and it doesn't do anything.

It fades through the day and by around 3pm I'm exhausted and need t nap. By evening I feel calm and ok. Then it starts again at 6am.

I have been going through some major life issues and perhaps that's causing it - recently been told I can't conceive naturally (I'm 42) and not entitled to NHS funded IVF but we can't afford private. And it's taken strain on relationship - I feel numb/disconnected from my lovely partner. I have no career plans or motivation and feel like I have no purpose.

Anyway - feel better for writing this. I just feels so worried it won't go away.

Hi, morning anxiety is awful. How recently did you increase your sertraline? When you start or increase dose of SSRIs there is often an increase in anxiety for 1-2 weeks. I've just increased my citalopram from 32.5mg to 35mg and even that tiny increase appeared to worsen my anxiety. I appear to be stupidly sensitive. I don't know about sertraline doses but maybe an increase would help? Sorry you are feeling like this, its horrible.

Hi, I’m so sorry you’re going through this, I have had this on and off for years. I’m on Citalapram and also taking HRT.
It comes and goes, if I’ve drunk alcohol the night before it seems to be much worse. You aren’t going mad, it’s just a horrible symptom of anxiety. My way of getting through it is to count in my head as a distraction until the worst is over, I know it sounds ridiculous but it works most of the time!
My meds are dealing with my mood stability generally it’s just the horrible anxiety waking up.
You’re obviously going through a lot and having this on top of everything else is rough. Do you have a sympathetic GP?

I increased from 25mg to 50mg about 6 weeks + ago. I have increased to 75mg this week as my doctor thinks I need to try higher dose.

I deffo had that wave of physical panic in the mornings when I first wen on it. So I'm hoping it does settle down. I guess 50mg isn't so high and 75mg might help me cope a bit better . I find it hard to do life admin and work stuff when I'm like this. Everything just feels so overwhelming.

It does get better throughout the day normally which is good. But yesterday I felt like I was about to take an exam all day!

GP - well it changes every time I speak to them as they I'm not assigned to one doctor. So some are good others not so good. The current one seems lovely and I've asked to see her Monday when I have a review.

Thanks for your messages. Feel a bit better just for that extra bit of support!

@littleflybuzz

There's a new book out called 'the anatomy of anxiety', I've only just started it but it seems really helpful . Takes a holistic approach to understanding anxiety and for recognising when it is emotional and when it is physical. Explains the link with things like blood sugar and hormones, might be worth you exploring?

That sounds good I'll definitely try that. Thank you! We're going to France next week and I'm worried this morning that my anxiety will ruin it! I'm hoping that being abroad somewhere new will distract my mind and help.

Of course, it's a double edged sword travelling with anxiety, you need the break but also....the anxiety 🙈 worth checking the book out, she's basically outlining the various physical reasons for anxiety and when you notice a pattern like it being worse in the morning it seems worth eliminating any physical reasons for that x