In this article and video, we will discuss morning anxiety and catastrophizing anxiety.

Morning Anxiety Catastrophizing Anxiety

We often like to review questions from subscribers and provide replies that will be helpful for everyone. Here are some common questions that we often receive from subscribers:

“Why do I have morning anxiety that is much worse?”
“Is there such a thing as early morning anxiety?”
“What can I do about it?”

Here’s our thinking.  When you first wake up, this is a dramatic change of state for you. Just previously you were asleep, and your brain waves were moving slowly. Now waking consciousness is certainly a different state of affairs.

The transition from sleep to waking life is an adjustment for everyone. Anxiety can hit when we are most vulnerable, such as during this transition from being asleep to waking up.

With morning anxiety, many sufferers of anxiety begin to really dread this period of time, either before they go to sleep; or when they wake up, they almost expect anxiety to hit them hard.

There is more to the notion of Morning Anxiety and Catastrophizing Anxiety

Many people concerned about the anxiety in the morning may in fact be doing something referred to as catastrophizing anxiety.

Dr. Marianne Ross, Licensed Psychologist, discusses how catastrophizing is imagining the worst case scenario, and feeling it will happen.

Dr. Ross suggests that you work through the following questions:

“If you notice that you catastrophize, think logically. For example, on a scale of 1-10, is this really a catastrophe or is this a difficult problem instead?

Is this happening now? If not, must I rehearse being so scared?
Do I have a crystal ball? If not, I might be prepared for a very fearful consequence.
However, I might also allow myself to expect less catastrophic results.”

Now the above statements are catastrophizing anxiety.

Here is another suggestion you might try with morning anxiety and catastrophizing anxiety

It’s called the What if Technique, which is often discussed by Dr. David Burns.

The idea behind this technique is that rather than trying to refute a certain thought, you completely buy into it and ask yourself: what if this were true? Recognize that you may have anxiety in the morning.  However, it can pass and you can get on with your day.  This does not have to wreck your entire morning.

Think of it this way: if you could schedule in your calendar an event you knew would happen every day – would it not make sense to ride it out and then get on with your day? The same is true for your anxiety.

Try using the What if Technique and working through the questions mentioned earlier in the video.

And your morning anxiety can become no more consequential in severity than any other time of day.

It is likely that if you utilize these suggestions then your morning anxiety could eventually fall away because you are no longer catastrophizing or giving it much attention.

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Reference
Ross, M. (2012 September 18). Catastrophizing: When You Worry Is It Stress-Reducing or Stress-Producing? Retrieved January 15, 2013, from:
http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/catastrophizing