HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

New w/questions

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/8/2012 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
Good afternoon! I'm hoping someone here can help me determine what the next step should be or maybe even provide some answers.

I've had small-group social anxiety for a good portion of my life, but that has been well managed on Effexor XR.

Over the past two years at higher stress times, I have profound morning anxiety where I feel very anxious but also extremely tired at the same time. Like all my body wants to do is go in "flight" mode. If I try CBT methods, it doesn't seem to help all that much because I am exhausted, Then, by late morning, it is like the anxiety cloud lifts and I am fine and what happened in the morning feels ridiculous.

Anyone have any clues as to what this might be or why it suddenly lifts or ???
Posted 3/8/2012 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome!

I have had the same problem...here is what I learned from reading up on this. (copied from an article)

Cortisol has many functions. It helps the body use sugar (glucose) and fat for energy (metabolism), and it helps the body manage stress. Cortisol levels can be affected by many conditions, such as physical or emotional stress, strenuous activity, infection, or injury.

Normally, cortisol levels rise during the early morning hours and are highest about 7 a.m. They drop very low in the evening and during the early phase of sleep.

Those of us with anxiety are either sensitive to, or make too much Cortisol, thus the heightened anxiety!  I hope that you find this helpful...keep up the CBT, along with uderstanding what you body is just naturally reacting to should be effective.:)

Take care and post anytime!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 3/9/2012 9:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and wlecome.  This is a question that comes up often and one I have experienced myself when my anxiety is peaking.  I have actually woke up in the morning and been overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety.  I have bursts into tears and felt like I would never be able to make it through the day. 

I still have this happen occasionally but I do take medication which has helped me as well as therapy. SC explained the cause of this phenomon very well.  A big part is also the way you talk yourself through the feelings. I noticed that I was more negative during my anxiety spells and could even talk myself into having a panic attack.   If I slow my breathing down and tell myself it will pass, I usually feel better.

Like you, as the day gets longer I start to feel better and by evening I feel good but I think that is because I am glad I made it through another day :)

I am glad you found this great forum and I look forward to getting to know you better.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 3/9/2012 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for replying!

I just found it so odd compared to other anxiety attacks in my life that my body would go into such a flight mode where I want to cry, but fall asleep all at the same time....and then completely lift. I will be checking into the cortisol link a little more, as in ways to reduce it. Thank you!
Posted 3/12/2012 8:53 PM (GMT 0)
I am experiencing something similar. I'm waking up early-5 AM with my heart pounding and feeling anxious and worried. It's pretty bad and something I haven't experienced in years and years. I talked to my therapist who explained about the cortisol. It has been going on since Christmas and I am exhausted. I would love a good night's sleep that lasts longer than 5 AM. It's almost 5 PM now and I have been out to the doctor for bloodwork and then to the therapist. Stopped at the pharmacy as well but I am fighting to relax and fighting being so tired. I don't want to sleep because I do want to sleep some tonight. So here I sit at the computer, hoping to get through the rest of the day so I can actually get some sleep. It's a mystery to me why I keep waking up at 5 AM no matter how early or late I fall asleep! Major anxiety.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply