What is with the massive anxiety when waking up

What is it about OCD that gives us huge anxiety when waking up. I have also been sleeping terribly.

Scared1

Date posted: 1y ago

It is the worst. The absolute worst. The swirling anxiety in my belly the moment my eyes open, the racing thoughts, the nausea, the chaos of fear that runs through me from adrenaline rushes. It’s miserable. I have come to believe that as soon as I realize Im awake, Im afraid for what lies ahead of me as far as ocd & intrusive thoughts go. What kind of day will I have today? What new thoughts will pop up, etc., etc. I just started taking an anti anxiety med last week and it has helped to slow it down. I take it around 10 each night, asleep by 10:30/10:45 and it has been getting me through the night. The mornings havent been filled with fear. The anxiety is still there, but more tolerable. At least now Im not hunched over holding my belly, pacing the floor, and trying not to barf. Long story short, I completely get you and I swore up & down I was never ever going to get better. Im not better yet, but I do believe my Lexapro & anti anxiety med is helping me manage. Looking forward to the future when this is all a thing of the past. Best of luck to you, and heres to a morning full of peace, calm, and relaxation!

Torquemada

Date posted: 1y ago

I am just started taking Lexapro. This is my second massive OCD episode, and Lexapro for 3 months completely put me into recovery. Take care friend, one day at a time.

Scared1

Date posted: 1y ago

@Torquemada How long dis it take before you saw results from the Lexapro?

Anarch_Stirner

Date posted: 1y ago

This post is so relatable.

Torquemada

Date posted: 1y ago

@Scared1 2-3 weeks 10mg, but it was gradual, not like on or off, hardest thing is breaking the habit of engaging with the thoughts, after that I felt like my old self.

Scared1

Date posted: 1y ago

@Torquemada I am starting out on 5mg and if need be will move up. I was too afraid to jump in too fast. I am hoping I can stay where I am at with it, but who knows. So glad to hear yours is working for you!

Anarch_Stirner

Date posted: 1y ago

I know, right?!

emilytravels...

Date posted: 1y ago

I was just about to post about this! It used to be that sleeping was my safe haven. And it would linger for at least a few hours into the beginning of my day until the intrusive thoughts would pop back in. But not anymore. The second I wake up the intrusive thoughts start coming and immediately the panic washes over me. It’s so awful. I’m trying to think of the thoughts as just that, thoughts, and that I don’t have to give meaning to them. It’s helped, but I’m not back to “normal” yet.

issphra 🫶🏻

Date posted: 13w ago

The Morning Anxiety

I always wake up full of dread and fear. My anxiety is through the roof two seconds after I open my eyes. Someone on this app gave me a similar insight once I believe. But I think anxiety is just the urge to ruminate. About what? It probably doesn’t matter, as long as I can torture myself, as OCD loves. Does anyone else relate to this or agree maybe?

issphra 🫶🏻

Date posted: 11w ago

I don’t want to keep doing this

some days I wake up with so much dread and guilt. It makes it so hard to keep going. I open my eyes and I’m hit with a wave of nausea and terror. I feel ashamed of my compulsions and my OCD. I feel like a monster for my checking compulsions. For momentarily sexualizing things that shouldn’t be sexualized out of anxiety. I’m ashamed of a lot that I give into because of anxiety. Confessing things that are meaningless to my boyfriend. I feel so awful and unworthy of existing and of love. I feel hopeless I don’t want to keep pushing, the more I push the more meta my OCD becomes and the more guilt I feel for this mental illness. The more confusing it becomes to do ERP. If compulsions are a choice, they feel like life or death and it’s driving me insane, I beat myself up so badly over them I’m scared of compulsions, I’m scared of thoughts, I’m scared to be awake, I’m even scared of sleeping because my intrusions and compulsions haunt me there too. I spend my dreams trying to explain or justify my OCD and compulsions to people. I’m exhausted, I want this to stop so badly. My severe OCD isn’t feeling any less severe and it’s been months. I don’t want to keep questioning my every move but I’m so hyperaware of everything I do. I’m so tired. Some days I don’t even have tears to cry with. I’m just so full of despair and shame

Iceberg Climber

Date posted: 10w ago

Rolling Anxiety Attacks with OCD?

Does anyone have any experience with this? I wake up early with severe, severe anxiety and nothing seems to help. I try embracing the anxiety, breathing, and exercising. But these things only seem to help a little. Fortunately, I do think the length of the attacks are getting shorter (mainly because I'm still trying my best to live normally in spite of them), but they are still lasting a good 5-6 hours. They are quite debilitating. Does anyone have any advice for dealing with these? I've read much about potential solutions (being okay with the anxiety), but I was looking for some personal antecdotes. Thank you

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What is with the massive anxiety when waking up

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