Do you feel the highest anxiety as soon as you wake up in the morning? Many people suffer from a state of anxiety that appears from the first moment of waking up, before they have even opened their eyes. It is the feeling that you have to get through the first part of the day and then the anxiety will subside, until in the evening, when everything seems easier, you start to wonder why the morning was so difficult.
The causes of this morning anxiety can be many, from hormones to the way you organize your routine. Here are some of them:
1. Stress hormone
Cortisol, the stress hormone, follows a daily cycle where it reaches its highest point in the morning, known as the "cortisol awakening response". This hormone helps the body get ready for the day by releasing glucose for energy. But this natural increase in cortisol can also cause feelings of anxiety.
2. Time stress
Mornings are often a race against time. Trying to get ready for the day, you may feel overwhelmed with tasks that need to be done quickly, such as getting ready, dressing, breakfast or even preparing others in the family. This constant rush can add to anxiety and affect your morning mood.
3. Forecast of the day
In the morning, your mind starts thinking about all the challenges of the day. Looking at all that you have to do, it can seem like you are facing a mountain of difficulty and uncertainty. Feeling like you don't know how things will turn out or if everything will go according to plan feeds anxiety.
4. You feel unprepared for challenges
In addition to multiple tasks, you may feel like you don't have the skills to handle them. You may feel sleepy, your body and mind are not yet fully awake. This feeling of lack of confidence in your abilities makes the day seem bigger than it needs to be.
5. Fear of missing the day
A new day can feel like a blank slate, supposed to be filled with something important. With the endless possibilities the day offers, the pressure to make the most of it can become a source of anxiety. The feeling that you are not managing the day properly makes it seem like you are "ruining" it from the start.
How to manage morning anxiety?
One way to reduce this anxiety is to create a more relaxed morning routine. Try to be gentler with yourself, take time to do things that relax you and remember that you don't have to achieve everything at once.
