Morning Anxiety
How To Cope With Morning Anxiety
If you suffer from morning anxiety, you are definitely not alone. In fact, it is a quite common condition. Many people start their day with a type of anxiety disorder that leaves them with thoughts of fear and stress. If you wake up many mornings scared to begin your day and you just feel like hiding in bed under the covers all day there are a few helpful solutions for you.
Sleep Habits
Your morning anxiety could easily be coming from lack of sleep. Are you having trouble falling asleep or do you wake up far too early? Insomnia and sleep patterns can cause physical and psychological issues including decreased energy, headaches, memory problems, poor concentration, anxiety and irritability. If you are having trouble sleeping and you think this may be what is causing your morning anxiety, consider talking to a professional herbalist for some sleep herbs to help you get a good night sleep before you decide to try sleep medication that you could end becoming reliant on.
Exercise
Doing about 15 minutes of morning exercise can have an extremely positive influence over your day. If you have time to take your four-legged friend for a quick walk around the block, he is sure to appreciate it. However, it could be doing something as simple as ditching your traditional alarm clock for a more pleasant wake up sound such as calming music. Do you possibly feel anxious because you are always pressed for time? Try to give yourself adequate preparation time and complete tasks at night that free up your morning time such as preparing your clothes and packing your lunch.
Positive Thoughts
If morning anxiety has been plaguing you for awhile, you may have developed a bit of a negative thought pattern that is keeping you in a rut. It takes a bit of dedication and practice but you can turn this around. First you will need to identify what thoughts you need to change and develop positive counter statements. Changing your thoughts can ultimately change how you feel and how you start your day. Negativity is fuel for anxiety. Positive thinking and an optimistic attitude makes it hard for anxiety to survive.
Diet
It has been reported in various studies that morning anxiety can directly be linked to a poor diet. When these particular substances are eliminated, the panic disorder disappears as well. Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are all common triggers. You are better off to pass on the nightcap and learn to survive without your morning cup of coffee. A quick walk is a great substitution for caffeine.
For some people, morning anxiety can be caused by a decrease in sugar levels in the blood. When you sleep long hours and these levels drop you can wake up feeling anxious. It is often helpful to eat a snack that is high in protein before you head off to sleep. If this seems to be the issue, you can even keep a healthy snack next to your bed to eat when you wake up. It is important to avoid sugar snacks; these will only put your blood sugar levels on a roller coaster ride.
Cluttered Bedroom?
If the first thing you see when you open your eyes in the morning is clutter, it could be the cause of your morning anxiety. Every object in your room has its own energy source. Too many objects laying around creates far too much energy that can bring negative feelings. Your room should be clutter free so you do not start your day looking at a mess and feeling overwhelmed.
Therapist Or Doctor
If none of these changes help, you should consider speaking with a therapist or talking to your doctor. There could be a physical or psychological underlying cause for your morning anxiety.