Hello friends, I’m going through another set back. Mornings are rough. Period. I go to bed and sleep fine, but first thing in the morning my anxiety is through the roof. Does anyone have helpful tips to deal with this? Should I do ERP? Go for a run? Eat certain foods? I’m sure there is a correlation with morning cortisol levels. Thank you! We got this!
I hope this is good advice; learn to get acclimatised to anxiety. It’s really hard, but once you learn that this is *just an emotion* you may learn not to base your perception of reality on it but on logic instead. Again, not easy. It’s just anxiety, an *illusion*.
I’m dealing with the same issue. Wide awake 4:30am with terrible anxiety. I do not stay in bed - it only makes it worse. I have been practicing doing exposures to start my day. It helps, and I know every exposure is getting me closer to feeling better. Also jump on treadmill for 30 minutes to help clear my head
@CAW1122 I’m thinking about that as well. My evenings are always pretty calm - almost like there is nothing left to burn. My mornings are most difficult too. I did an hour of ERP this morning. My trouble is I was doing very good until I gave into one tiny little compulsion on Saturday. Boom!
I get it. I am also better in the evening. Don’t know why, other than I am mentally exhausted.
@CAW1122 How long have you been doing NOCD? Are you seeing gains?
I experience the same thing and have started dreaded waking up. The anxiety it brings me lets me know I can use it as an opportunity to sit with the anxiety and let it pass naturally. it’s not fun by any means, but thinking of it as a learning opportunity does help.
@vannyyy I know! It does subside. By this time in the evening, I’m spent. I’m pretty relaxed and can actually eat dinner.
I use it as an opportunity to do ERP and gradually I get comfortable with sitting in it for a bit. I also learned that if I get up and do something, it dials down a bit.
@Shannis Yes, it is one of the biggest challenges that I face in the day but with the biggest reward. Getting up and get moving. I just want to hide under the covers…
I like peppermint tea with Honey. Some time s I drink a stress tea
@Maxwell510$ What’s a stress tea? Do you take some supplements? I’m bummed out that I have to immediately cut out my coffee. I love coffee but not feeling like this. I don’t need any extra help. 😂
Hi Joey, sorry you’re going through a rough patch! Just remember the goal isn’t to get rid of anxiety even though in the moment it’s all we went LOL! But remember ALL people experience anxiety and it will go away by itself, there’s no need to fear it. So what I would recommend is going about your day like normal while experiencing anxiety. This will teach your brain that you’re safe you’re ok, and you can handle it! Hope this helps , keep me updated 😝👍
@httpet Thank you so very much for your input. I hear you. Over time it does subside and by the evening it’s manageable. I don’t fear the anxiety, although it sucks and I don’t enjoy it, I fear my obsession and my ruminations. 😂 My OCD brain believes it can hurt me and I’m not safe.
So I am in ERP with a NOCD therapist, and I was getting better, much better I thought I was back to normal. But then I had to do an exercise that just triggered me bad and now I feel like I’m going backwards. I have pocd and it sucks, but do you guys know why anxiety is just full on blast in the am I hate it cause I feel like I want to throw up, I start to gag a lot! I had it under control before but now it just feels like I’m back in square one! Could really use y’all’s hell, much appreciated!
How do you deal with it? Any tips and tricks?
Is there anything that you all do that’s not a compulsion or ritual that helps with your OCD and anxiety in the mornings?
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