Some mornings, we are faced with the worries of life the first time we open our eyes. “I’m going to have a nasty day today.” We think, and that’s what happens most of the time. Sometimes, it lasts for the first few hours of the day; sometimes it spreads throughout the day and turns into a torture.
If you wake up in an anxious mood for the day, you may have morning anxiety. Moreover, you will soon see that this is actually caused by the hormones our brain secretes to protect us.
What exactly is this morning anxiety?
Morning anxiety, which is not a medical term, refers to waking up feeling stress and anxiety. If you are dealing with extreme stress and anxiety in the morning, you may also have a generalized anxiety disorder. However, if this condition only occurs in the morning and there are symptoms that we will list shortly, you probably have morning anxiety.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms when you wake up, chances are you have morning anxiety too:
- Feeling restless, irritable, nervous, or exhausted when you wake up
- Panic attack symptoms such as tense muscles, chest tightness, high heart rate, breathing difficulties
- focusing problems
- Headache, nausea and chills
- Difficulty controlling emotions
Now that you’ve learned about the symptoms, you may more or less know if you have this anxiety, but you may still not know what’s causing it.
Morning anxiety can be caused by many factors. Since this anxiety is a reaction to extreme stress and worries, there are several possible causes that may contribute to your symptoms.
Cortisol, called the stress hormone, is secreted by the adrenal glands against fear or stress. Studies have shown that cortisol levels are highest in the first hour of waking up in people with high levels of stress in their lives.
If you go to bed anxious or wake up at night with anxious thoughts, you will likely feel anxious in the morning.
Before sleeping; If you have been struggling with thoughts such as worries about a future exam, a presentation you will make, or something that will give you stress at work, it is very likely that this level of anxiety is even higher when you wake up in the morning.
Because your body has secreted a very high level of cortisol hormone to give you energy, and this high level of hormone has caused you to feel more anxiety.
So how can we prevent morning anxiety?
As with all other psychological problems, seeking therapy with a specialist should be the first thing to do. Besides that, there are some things you can do yourself:
Caffeine and sugar can increase anxiety symptoms. But low blood sugar caused by a lack of nutrients can make anxiety worse. Therefore, a balanced and regular diet plays a major role in the prevention of anxiety.
In addition; you can resort to ways such as getting enough sleep, not consuming too much alcohol, doing breathing exercises, avoiding situations that will increase stress at work and at home, taking time for yourself by avoiding stimulants such as social media, planning the day, physical activity and meditation.
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