Chronic morning anxiety

[[ta...]]

Iv been on diazapam for 9 years and a low dose of 5mg a week for the last 2 months. 3 weeks ago I started getting horrendous anxiety chest pain and a constant feeling that my head was too heavy for my neck (weird I know ) Iv hardly been able to leave the house but hate being inside so much. I have found this is so much worse in the morning to the point I feel in crisis, I have never been a hood sleeper but if I manage 2-3 hrs a night I feel lucky.. My gp gave me ssri sertraline which sent me into meltdown I'm now at a total loss what to do, the thing is Iv been stable 5mg for a while and am questioning if this is withdrawl or is this something else.. Any advise would be very welcome

[[Br...]]

Withdrawing too rapidly can lead to anxiety.  Many people here find that anxiety is at its worst in the morning and one idea is that this is due to naturally raised levels of cortisol at that time of day.

 

Your sig says "9 years of diazapam 15mg a day; for that last year 6 mg of diazapam daily; and last month 6mg of diazapam weekly".  Going from 6mg daily to the same 6mg dose weekly is a much faster reduction than many people here could manage and it seems likely your morning anxiety is a result of cutting too quickly.

 

 

[[cl...]]

Hi,

 

You may also have really low serotonin levels which can be caused by a zinc/ b6 deficiency. I used to have the same problem - the withdrawal from clonazepam makes anxiety so much worse. But I recently found out I have a condition called pyroluria which causes anxiety etc. You may not have this, but you could have a read of Trudy Scott's blog which is all about treating anxiety with food etc. http://www.antianxietyfoodsolution.com/

 

I find when I feel really anxious, telling myself to 'stop swimming in the emotion' and doing some proper abdominal breathing (the breathe to replax app is good) for maybe half an hour with some nice music on, really does help. Also telling yourself that the anxiety is caused by withdrawal, and you're not crazy or a failure, may also help you cope better.

 

I know since taking activated B6 and Zinc, I have felt a LOT less anxious. I already have a pretty good diet. I've also been taking the Road Back supplements while I've ben tapering/ withdrawing and speaking to a psychologist which, I think, have helped me manage my anxiety and have reduced it quite a bit.

 

Early morning sunshine also helps me!

 

Good luck

[[al...]]

Morning anxiety is quite common. I had it for months on end in the beginning. But it eventually went away and has not returned  Taking seraltine could aggravate it as it alters your brain chemistry and effects your nercvous system which in turn affects your heart and anxiety.

 

Whenever a symptom became too great for me, I always held. I held for days , weeks and sometimes months until I felt mentally and physically able to continue. Sometimes the symptoms became too much and my will to keep going too weak and needed to just take a break and settle down a bit before I could handle feeling like crap again. Try holing a bit and see if things get a bit better and then resume your taper . You may find you can continue at the same taper pace or you might need to make the cuts smaller. You can see when the time comes. Just let your body heal for a bit right now....even when you are holding you are healing don;t forget that.

 

Take care, Alabama.

[[bn...]]

the mornings are the worst for me too. Major panic attacks when my hubs leaves for work. I have a bottle of Vit C by my bed and pop one when the attacks start. I think it does help..but, it has started to bother my tummy.

I took this article from LIVESTRONG concerning the cortisol and vit c

 

itamin C Dosage to Help Lower Cortisol

Last Updated: Dec 18, 2013 | By Brandon Dotson

Vitamin C Dosage to Help Lower Cortisol Vitamin C supplements Photo Credit Santje09/iStock/Getty Images

 

Cortisol is a hormone released from the adrenal gland during stress. It’s involved in immune function, glucose metabolism, insulin release and inflammation. Chronically high cortisol levels can impair your cognitive performance, decrease muscle tissue, suppress thyroid function and increase visceral fat. Evidence indicates that vitamin C taken in the right dosage might reduce cortisol levels. Consult your health care provider before taking vitamin C supplements.

Animal Study

 

Vitamin C might reduce cortisol levels, according to an animal study performed by researchers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Researchers put rats under stress for one hour per day for three weeks and then gave them 200 milligrams of vitamin C or a placebo. According to Science Daily, rats given vitamin C experienced decreases in cortisol and other stress hormones compared with those consuming a placebo.

Human Study

 

According to Psychology Today, a human study showed similar findings. German researchers investigated the effects of vitamin C supplementation on participants undergoing a public speaking task, which is considered a stressor. Subjects were given 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C or a placebo before performing the task. Scientists found that those in the vitamin C group had lower levels of cortisol and blood pressure compared with those not receiving vitamin C supplementation. In addition, participants in the vitamin C group felt less stress than did the non-vitamin group.

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[[Th...]]

Mornings are very bad for me as well. I wake up every morning with my heart pounding. I can see it in my stomach and feel it in my head. I find that if I stay in bed that it does not get any better. Getting up, taking a shower and getting dressed for work is very helpful in distracting me. Usually by the time I'm at work I am distracted with other things that I don't think about it anymore. It comes back after a long day of work though and I rinse and repeat. It has improved over time however by cutting out stimulants such as tobacco, coffee, sugar and sodas from my diet. Do you get up out of bed when you wake up very anxious or are you staying there dwelling on the fact you're more anxious than usual? It may seem difficult but distractions can help you forget your anxiety at least temporarily from my experience.