Anxiety Spikes at Night (๑• . •๑)??

Good evening, fellow OCD friends! /ᐠ. .ᐟ\ฅ I've noticed that, for the past couple of days, my anxiety/OCD has spiked during the evening (around 8-9PM). I was curious about it, since I mentioned to my fiancé that I've been feeling worse at night, and wanted to ask whether that's a common occurrence for others or not. ‎•᷄ࡇ•᷅ I've always been a night owl, so you could see why being more anxious at night would be bothersome. I like to relax at night and watch Instagram reels, read, journal, etc., but it's hard to when I'm particularly struggling with "riding the wave." (=_=) I don't need it to stop or anything (my fiancé has told me that I was always anxious before my OCD flared up particularly bad in December), but I don't have friends that can relate to how I'm feeling or what I'm going through regarding OCD and anxiety in general, so I'm posting here. ( -᷄ω-᷅)💨 Anyways, I've been struggling a bit with my OCD. My main theme has shifted to one I've had really severely before, so I've been pretty on edge about it, but I'm taking things day by day with exposing myself naturally to things and letting myself be anxious without doing compulsions (as much as I can – I'm not perfect, but I do my best). ( ᴗˬᴗ)⁾⁾ I'm staying with my fiancé for another couple of weeks than we originally planned, which is making me anxious (we're adjusting to the post-honeymoon phase of the relationship, which is new and scary for me), but I love him a lot and I was the one who prompted it in the first place. Wish me good luck with my OCD about that! I hope everyone is doing well, whether you're struggling a lot or a little. Remember to take care of yourself and be kind to yourself too, there are so many others out there that're struggling right alongside you. You're never alone. 🩷

ava3need

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: Yesterday

I’ve definitely struggled with anxiety spikes in the evenings before and still get it now when it flares up. For me, it has to do with being afraid that I did not do the day to the best of my ability and a corresponding fear that I will fail again tmrw. It’s obsessing over perfection for me. I have found that as I consistently do my deep breathing exercises and general tools for managing my anxiety (for me, night walks [when safe] and doing music), my overall anxiety level goes down, my perfectionism decreases, and the nighttime episodes get less and less bad. It just kind of turns a corner. Anyways, not saying that this is your case; this is just what I have found to be the root of my own issue. But even if we have different root issues, you are not alone and I know how it feels. It’s exhausting and I’m so sorry 🫶

cyrene

Date posted: Yesterday

@ava3need Thank you for the thoughtful response! I think I'm going to work on a toolkit for my OCD and anxiety in general, since I do not have a list of things that I can do to help me reduce my anxiety. I was watching a video on Instagram today of someone with a panic attack bag, and the idea is sticking with me for OCD. It is definitely exhausting, but I know it'll pass like everything eventually does. 🤍 Thank you again for the reply!

Username TBD

Date posted: Yesterday

@ava3need So well said, same here!

gymson

Date posted: Yesterday

I’m the same! Most of the feelings and thoughts get more intense over night, I’ve always put it down to the quiet solitude that often comes with night. You’re not alone!!

RabbitHearted

Date posted: Yesterday

I definitely experience a spike in my anxiety/OCD in the evenings! I'm a night owl as well. I think part of it might be because when I'm trying to wind down for the night and relax that's when my thoughts start racing the most & I tend to ruminate. It's frustrating because then it causes sleep problems for me a lot of the time !

cyrene

Date posted: Yesterday

@RabbitHearted Funnily enough I had a triggering dream last night after being up dealing with a spike in my OCD, so I wholeheartedly understand that aspect of it! I wonder why winding down at night causes us to have an uptick in ruminating and intrusive thoughts. Maybe we're less stimulated externally, so it's easier to notice the anxiety and get stuck on it? It's interesting that it happens, but also really not fun too. Thank you for the response!

RabbitHearted

Date posted: Yesterday

@cyrene That's an interesting thought about there being less external stimulation! I wonder if part of it is also when we start to relax for the night & let our guard down a bit that's when the anxiety swoops in. Definitely not fun :(

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