Mornings

[EllaSW]

Is it normal to feel completely wretched in the mornings? Every day on waking I feel AWFUL but after an hour or so feel fine. Doesn't matter how many hours sleep I have or haven't had. Not a drinker so it can't be that. Is this just life?! If not, does anyone have any tips on how to feel better first thing?

I feel like this at the moment but that's because my DC wake several times a night and are up very early in the morning.
When I get an undisturbed night's sleep I feel fine.

Not a doctor but I think it would be unusual if you start going to bed early, and at roughly the same time every night, exercising, drinking water, eating healthily, cutting out sugar and following some relaxation and calming exercises and THEN noticed that nothing changed and you still feel awful on waking.

So if all of the above basic things are in order, and you are getting enough hours sleep, you not under any form of stress that is leading to insomnia, and you are not waking up multiple times for a child or a pet, then maybe look at your sleep environment?

Do you have enough fresh air, are there too many blankets or duvets, do you have an allergy to dust mites or is there something potentially allergenic in your room? I feel utterly dreadful on waking if the room is too warm.

How about your mouth and nose? Do you snore? Maybe get a monitor to detect sleep apnoea or irregular heart rhythms? Sleep apnoea can make you feel dreadful during the day.

How about menopause? Hot flushes and hormone disruption can lead to sleep disturbances.

Obviously if you are worried about any aspects of your health then see your gp
or go and see one to rule out any potential health issues.

Good luck!

Yes I do. Every morning. Menopause for me 🙄

Yep. Me too.

Thanks for your replies. @Marycassattsbonnet very interesting...I had thought that I had a healthy-ish lifestyle but maybe I need to think more about cutting out sugar and home environment. I wonder if I eat too late also. Do you feel great when you wake up?

@starsbrawl I think I need to look at my lifestyle 😏

I’m nearly sixty and having come through the menopause and out the other end, I feel much better now, but I did feel truly terrible for a while waking up I must say.

But when I make an effort to go to bed early and eat healthily and do all of the right things, I really do notice a difference and spring out of bed early!

It’s a total bore 😀 as I love staying up late but my body won’t cooperate any more if I burn the candle at both ends.

Do you feel tired throughout the rest of the day op, or is it just the mornings? Do you get an afternoon slump for example?

I know eating a lot of sugar can cause your energy levels to fluctuate wildly. I feel it now I am older if I eat a carb-based lunch for example.

If you are introducing a few lifestyle changes; go mad; just take a few simple steps like upping the number of daily steps you take or alternating every cup of tea or coffee with a glass of water. Eat one more portion of green veg per day. That sort of thing. If you introduce them gradually, you can then identify what makes a difference and focus on that.

Btw my sister has an issue if she eats too late. Or if she eats tomatoes, anything spicy, alcohol, strong black coffee etc. Especially after about 8.00 pm. (Mind you she goes to bed very early.). I think her doctor said to leave three clear hours before eating and bed. She is slightly overweight and gets acid reflux. She has bought one of those mattresses that elevates the head height above the rest of the body and she says it works well.

If you mainly feel groggy for just the first hour after waking it can be Sleep inertia. I get this. Husband always wonders why I need to put my wake up call so early when I’m going somewhere. Basically because it takes me that long to feel normal before starting to get ready. I find having a regular wake up routine helpful, I generally get up around 7.30am every morning even at the weekends. Then coffee!!

Mumsnet you're all so helpful - thank you.

@Marycassattsbonnet I'm not an afternoon slump person - I actually generally feel more energetic and awake as the day goes on. Diet isn't exemplary but not too bad at all. I do just feel dire on waking and for about an hour afterwards...I wonder if I may have a sleep issue that has gone detected. @HoundsMamma what is sleep inertia? I've never heard of it!

@EllaSW sleep inertia as described by wiki is a physiological state of impaired cognitive and sensory-motor performance that is present immediately after awakening. Much more so than normal. Some people seem prone to it and they’re not 100% sure why, but some of the studies have interesting ideas. Could be a blood flow thing where it takes a while for your body to catch up that you’re awake. Basically a type of sleep disorder thing. Worth a google. But agree with others, good sleep hygiene is important plus not eating too late really helps too.