Anxiety returns every morning

[schmatto]

Hi, I have suffered from depression & anxiety disorders since childhood & most recently was recovering from a long bout of depression. Came off Effexor over 3 months & stopped completely at Easter. I was going fine but the last 2 weeks of June were more stressful than usual for me & I sort of cracked up 1 day at work, having to go home I felt so upset.
Thought it was depression again at 1st, but over the last couple of weeks I see it's definitely anxiety, starting early in the morning when I wake up in the middle of the night, upon waking [when my stomach just immediately starts churning], & continuing through the morning till about 2/3 in the afternoon, when it strangely COMPLETELY DISAPPEARS!
In the mornings/lunchtime it will flare up particularly if I have thoughts about my children [about whom I feel incredibly guilty about having to go through living with me & my depression.]
I've had a lot more success fighting anxiety than depression in my 35 years of experiencing both conditions so feel somewhat confident that my condition will improve if I practice good therapy [Weekes/Morito/ACT,etc.] , exercise & improve my diet [think my blood sugar may be low in mornings]
Still, it's bloody HORRIFYING when you're in the middle of it. Panic attacks should be renamed Terror Episodes & Anxiety is more Horrific than anything.
I am on holidays at home at the moment which I know makes it more difficult with anxiety as it's more difficult to distract yourself.
Anyway, I will post again & hopefully things will improve.
Does anyone have any hints about this morning general anxiety which lasts till early afternoon every day? It is completely new to me. Thanks.

[MEGO]

I experience the same thing, as soon as I wake up the anxiety is there as well as the horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. Mine usually lasts all day unless something happens to make me feel better. I had a really bad panic attack in front of people on my third shift of my new job the other day and now the anxiety is back. Cant seem to get past the fact that I cried in front of other workers. Feeling pretty stupid. Did anything happen recently that may have triggered the morning anxiety?
Hope ur feeling okay today.

[Adam123]

Hi there - your not alone. I'm the same. As soon as I wake up I have to over think what I'm doing that day. Over think before I do anything else. Little things. Horrible feeling - its a new day - I should be living it not worrying about things that shouldn't impact my day.

Adam

[schmatto]

Yeah Adam, thanks, this is crap but I'm actually looking forward to finishing my holidays & having things to distract me 8-4 every day! It's not easy to let all those thoughts just float by, we tend to grab & read every one.
Hi there - your not alone. I'm the same. As soon as I wake up I have to over think what I'm doing that day. Over think before I do anything else. Little things. Horrible feeling - its a new day - I should be living it not worrying about things that shouldn't impact my day.

Adam

[Lin]

I panic and have anxiety every day before i go to work because i really don't want to be there at moment. But if anxiety not too bad I have got really good at putting a mask on at work and being able to focus on my work. The trouble is it puts a lot of pressure on you to have to act 'normal' all day and the pressure is even worse if you can't take off the mask at home because your husband doesn't understand and has had enough of your depression and anxiety.

[solta]

Hey, I have the same problem but it has gone better. Everything is fine when I wake up and all is good until the first thought about anxiety pops into my mind. After that it usually lasts for quite a few hours but its a lot less than it used to be. I know its all about me overthinking so after I've had my focus on something else, the anxiety usually disappears. I have a friend who's there for me 24/7 so it helps a lot. I turn on the radio, cook and start texting about everything else but my anxiety when I wake up. My tip would be to be as active as possible and try to focus on the little things!

[jinx136]

I can completely relate to how you feel. My anxiety is awful in the morning, which results in a super fast heart beat and since of terror. However, this may be normal believe it or not.

The anxiety in the morning is due to increased Cortisol levels. You can do a web search and find a ton of information.
Lately, I have been walking my dog every morning or running, which somewhat helps.
Wish they had a tablet that released or med I could take at 3 am, so that it would be in full effect by 6-7

I am curious as to why you went off Effexor and what your experiences were like on it?