Anxiety is a complex condition that may manifest in many different ways.
You may experience generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress in the morning. Some factors trigger these feelings, such as genetics, environmental influences, and life events.
Here is an insight into why you may be waking up with anxiety in the morning:
1. Stress
Stress is a well-established trigger for many people and can lead to morning anxiety.
Stressors such as work or school pressures, family problems, finances, and more may play a role in the onset of your symptoms. These stressors are known to cause biochemical changes that increase cortisol levels.
It is essential to take some time out of your day to de-stress, no matter how busy you are. Yoga and meditation is a fantastic way for some people to do this without even leaving the house.
Another primary source of stress in most people’s lives comes from their family or partner relationships. If you feel tension between yourself and someone close to you, you must resolve these issues. It may be highly beneficial to consult a professional such as a therapist or life coach. A life coach will help guide your conversation in the best way possible.
2. Alcohol Use and Substance Abuse
Alcoholism can cause anxiety and drinking too much can cause anxiety the next day. This is often referred to as ‘hangxiety‘.
Alcohol is known to cause high blood pressure, which leads the body into fight and flight mode. This directly affects serotonin levels and brain function, causing mood swings and depression. Alcohol is also known to cause dehydration, which can lead to migraines and headaches in some people.
Stimulants such as cocaine, ecstasy, or amphetamines are another well-known source of anxiety.
These stimulants increase dopamine levels causing high energy levels, arousal levels, and impulsiveness. This directly causes elevated heart rates, which can lead to panic attacks and anxiety symptoms.
Relationship Troubles
Whether it is romantic, friendship, or family relationships, issues between two people can cause anxiety. These arguments are usually the result of unresolved feelings and problems within the relationship, leading to increased stress levels in both parties.
Relationship problems lead to biochemical changes that increase cortisol levels leading you into fight-or-flight mode. It is crucial when dealing with relationship problems that you try and resolve them as quickly as possible.
Life Events
Life events that can cause anxiety are usually related to loss in some way. It may be the death of a loved one, losing your job, or moving house. These events impact our lives, and it is normal for us to experience stress as a result.
We all cope with change differently. Hence it may affect people in different ways too.
It is vital to find a way to make sense of the loss or life change in your own time. You can achieve it through talking with friends, family members, or therapy sessions. It is all about finding what works for you and helps you deal with anxiety without experiencing overwhelming symptoms.
Financial Issues
How we feel about money and the pressure to make more can also lead people to anxiety. The anxiety might emanate from high expectations from society and our loved ones.
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There are many ways you can learn how to manage your finances better. Such techniques include keeping a budget, planning for retirement, and having an emergency fund ready.
Someone experiencing anxiety due to finances must take steps to improve their situation. For instance, it would be best to seek professional help from a therapist specializing in money management issues. This is the only way they can move forward without experiencing stress and negative emotions.
Physical Health Issues
As well as the mental effects of anxiety, physical health problems can also cause symptoms and waking up wih anxiety. These include blood pressure issues and headaches due to stress. Anyone with a pre-existing medical condition should adhere to their treatment plan to avoid complications in the future.
Chronic illness and physical disabilities can have a significant impact on your daily life. Common diseases that might cause anxiety are cancer, diabetes, psoriasis, asthma, diabetes, and arthritis. Physicians recommend that you seek professional help for these conditions, which can often contribute to anxiety symptoms.
People with anxiety disorders must not neglect their physical health to focus on the mental aspects. In many cases, this means taking medication on schedule, ensuring they eat a healthy diet, drinking plenty of water, and getting some form of exercise each day. Lack of exercise can lead to further problems, which you need to be aware of if you have been experiencing both forms of illness.
Symptoms
Although there are many types of anxiety, the manifestations differ slightly. General symptoms indicative of anxiety include:
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Panic attacks, which includes chest tightness
- Difficulty in breathing
- Nervousness
Diagnosis
A doctor or psychiatrist will use several tests to diagnose waking up with anxiety. The medical practitioner will likely ask you about your symptoms and how often you experience them.
You may also be asked if any other conditions such as depression or ADHD might contribute to your anxiety. Furthermore, the physician might inquire about any medication and social life because some drugs might cause anxiety as a side effect.
The physician will perform a test to rule out any physical health problems causing the anxiety symptoms. They will also consider if you have experienced any life changes in the past few months. For example, if you have moved houses or suffered a bereavement recently.
There are many anxiety tests and examinations available that you can take yourself at home and then send to the physician for review. The psychiatrist might request you perform a self-assessment test to determine if your anxiety fits into a particular category. Such tests range from simple questionnaires that ask about specific emotions or situations to in-depth psychiatric evaluations.
Lifestyle Modifications
Numerous lifestyle modifications may help you combat anxiety. Exercise is an efficient approach to reduce stress, and it is great for your overall health. It releases endorphins that make you feel good, decreasing the likelihood of an attack in stressful situations.
Sleep is vital because it grants the body time to heal and relieve stress.
In addition, a relaxing hobby such as knitting, painting, or reading can reduce stress. It can be challenging to deal with mental health issues on your own. Therefore, it is always best to seek the advice of a doctor or therapist if you are concerned about your symptoms.
Self-Care Strategies
Physical Activity
The goal of physical activity is to release endorphins that make you feel good. Exercise also reduces stress, decreases blood pressure, and slows down the heart rate to prevent a state of panic when it senses danger. Research shows that physical activities like aerobics significantly influence a person’s general physical and mental health.
Simple physical activities, like walking, can improve your mood and keep you healthy. In addition, exercise can improve the way your body handles stressful situations. You should exercise at least thirty to forty-five minutes a day every four days a week.
Stress Management
Stressful management can include techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation.
Such routines can help you to calm your mind in stressful situations. Although many different ways of managing stress exist, physicians recommend finding what works best for you. If one strategy is ineffective, they should try another until they find one, which helps.
Habit Reversal Training
Habit Reversal Training is a kind of therapy where patients learn to identify and change specific behaviors that may be causing them anxiety.
Such habits include simple actions such as nail-biting, excessive blinking, or tapping toes. After learning how to control these habits, you can apply this newfound control to more stressful situations.
In Conclusion
In summary, numerous techniques exist that can help those suffering from anxiety in the morning. The most effective is professional therapy.
However, it would be best to try lifestyle modifications such as physical activity and stress management strategies. Anxiety is a manageable condition that you can overcome with the proper support and management plan.