- Date posted
- 2y
Mornings? How to make them better?
How do you guys make your mornings less hard? The ocd and anxiety is so terrible in the mornings… how do i make my mornings better so it will make a better start of your day
How do you guys make your mornings less hard? The ocd and anxiety is so terrible in the mornings… how do i make my mornings better so it will make a better start of your day
Morning are Probably the hardest part for me. Cause before I even open my eyes the intrusive thoughts hit with no remorse lol. There’s a bunch of videos on morning routines but here’s my person one: As soon as you wake up, go outside and go for a short walk. Nothing crazy but the exposure to natural light and some movement will help get you started very nicely and can also help with your sleep cycle Next thing is a cold shower. As cold as you can handle. Nothing long, you can do only a minute if that’s all you can handle but don’t go over 5 minutes. Bunch of benefits for that. After that I’ll journal/ read for a couple minutes And then finish up with stretching. if you have busy mornings you can make any adjustments you needs to to fit your schedule, but I always make sure to get my walk and shower at bare minimum. General notes: avoid caffeine for the first 30 min- hour you’re awake and during the routine keep your phone usage as low as you can.
You are not alone in feeling this way. I have heard many say the same thing, me included. I get up immediately, if I lay in bed my brain just tries so hard to ruminate 🤦♀️. I’ll grab my coffees, maybe a quick meditation and I get moving with my day. I try to have a plan and stick to it, even if it’s an noisy ICD day at least a get things accomplished 😀
*OCD
I'm a morning anxiety person, too. It's rough because it lasts all day. I've heard that it can be helpful to drink a full glass of water when you wake up. Give your body a head start at flushing some of the cortisol that gets released when we fist wake up. I like the suggestion about getting up right away and starting your morning routine. I try to start response prevention right away by being mindful of my body and brain and not engaging in compulsions. I know morning anxiety is super hard. I'm
I work out at the gym & come back home to a cup of mushroom coffee. Also, reading a book helps to ground my thoughts & quiet the mind. Maybe write a list for the day? That way there is no obsessing over what needs to get done first thing in the morning.
I always feel the most anxiety and dread in the morning. That’s when I start overthinking a lot, and it becomes really hard not to seek reassurance on the internet and so on. What do you all do to ease the morning anxiety a bit?
I wanted to share with you guys some of the things that have helped me in the past few weeks! If you’re open to it, maybe try a few and see how you feel! First I would really recommend leaning on God. If you’re not a believer you may be skeptical but if you’ve never tried to read the Bible, prayer or even just talking with God, I would recommend so much! My relationship with God has gotten so much better through this terrible illness and in turn I have noticed a lot of positivity, I feel substantially better since I’ve been trying to bring this to God instead of worry about it myself. If you can give your worries to God and learn to have faith that he is with you, loves and forgives you. You have a great step towards recovery and even just a more positive life. Next, try going outside! I know it sounds kinda dumb but I mean it! Some of my best days started with just going outside, reading a book and or listening to music. I went out and tanned, ate some fruit with some lemonade and read “Girl Wash Your Face” it was a great book! I would spend HOURS and it helped me so much! Take a walk, hike, etc.! This leads into the next thing…READING! I recently bought the new book “don’t believe everything you think” and the workbook and it is amazing! This also applies to reading your Bible and other books, specially ones targeting self help and things like that! Another thing is fitness! Try out the gym, I know there is days that you just can’t bring yourself to get up but in those days, make yourself go to the gym! Even if you just go walk on the treadmill or bike! Anything is better than nothing! Keep yourself active, I promise it will make you feel better! Find a good podcast! I have been listening to (The OCD Stories on Spotify), sometimes I’ve even listened while I was going to sleep and let it play through the night! Go on YouTube and follow Chrissie Hodges, NOCD and look for other people who help! Go on instagram and follow Chrissie Hodges, NOCD, iocdf, sincerelyocd, recoverocd, letstalk.ocd, my lovely ocd and there are so many more! Find good music! Again I’m going to bring up worship music some of my favs being ( I Thank God, Move of God, Hard fought Hallelujah, The Truth, Made for more, Thy Will, and there is so many more!) if you would like I can share my playlist! But overall music is so helpful and if you are not a believer or want something different I would recommend songs by Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Kesha, Rihanna, Demi Lovato, Kelly Clarkson, even Billy Joel, Queen, Beck, and things of that nature that are gonna get you PUMPED UP! Lastly, hang out with PEOPLE! Don’t let OCD rule your life, put your ocd in a box best you can and go live your life! Get lunch with a friend, join a bible study, go get a massage, even just meet up with a friend and talk in a parking lot while shoving your face with fast food! You NEED interaction as much as you don’t want to! I know some of these are hard, some is triggering or you’re nervous that you’re gonna spiral, but step out of your comfort zone! That’s the way to get better! Do things that make you feel uncomfortable, the things that are unknown, the things you used to do before this! You can still live and love your life you don’t have to keep just “surviving”! And this isn’t a fix all, trust me I still have my days where I’m like nope I’m staying in bed and crying, but you need to push yourself! No one is coming to hold your hand and walk you out of this, you have to want to help yourself too! And you can do that! I know it’s scary and uncomfortable but you got this! We’re gonna kick some OCD butt! I hope you find this helpful and I wish you the most luck! Comment if you have questions and whatnot! 🫶
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