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[Dandelion]

Thank you Ladies, for sharing your experiences and also for giving me a few ideas to try..Dandelion I shall definitely buy some Magnesium , and CLKD I shall keep some biscuits beside my bed from now on in case  low blood sugar is part of the problem. I do so identify with what you say about how you feel in the 'now'- and the feelings of terror and dread..and for no good reason, seemingly! It's so odd, all I want is to wake up feeling relaxed and refreshed and instead (to use Dandelion's phrase) I wake up on red alert..and have no idea why!

Diamonds and pearls x

It's the fight or flight response. It makes our bodies alert and on guard and it is a primal thing.
The body gets ready to either suddenly fight or flee.
It's a bit sudden first thing after waking though.
It kinda throws you into the day.

[Suzyq]

Hi

Seratonin levels are linked to estrogen levels so that's probably why we feel more anxious in menopause rather then before! Presumably that's why my anxiety is loads better now as my estrogen levels are pretty good. Hope that helps! I also throw myself into accepting how I feel and that it is uncomfortable but not dangerous (learnt that in cbt) it does help me...

[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Suzyq, Thank you, that makes sense as I am off hrt at the moment -I did not know that Seratonin levels were linked to Oestrogen levels.
Dandelion-I understand the flight or fight response..but why this has to happen on waking is a puzzle..I suppose the adrenaline surge is also bound up with the drop in oestrogen/seratonin ...sigh..who'd be a menopausal female eh!?
Diamonds and pearls x

[katem]

I can see how our levels of serotonin affect our anxiety levels but what I don,t understand is why this impacts more in the morning? I think my dread of mornings is deffinately more phycological but I also deffinately get the nausea and dizziness affects. I know that the Prozac is meant to stop the reuptake of serotonin but what if you are not producing serotonin in the first place? and how do we measure that? Plus, I have tramped miles in the countryside and run miles on the treadmill but I have never experienced the serotonin surge/lift God, I really sound like the most miserable cow!!!!!! Please just ignore me diamonds and pearls because we differ massively in that you wake up feeling anxious whereas I wake up very early and by the time morning arrives, I am then feeling very anxious. God help us.

[CLKD]

It may be a sudden drop in blood sugar which wakes us = anxiety surges 

[Rowan]

I think it connected to the adrenal glands and cortisol levels, men can suffer with this too.

http://me-vs-anxiety.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/morning-anxiety-attacks.html

[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Kate,sorry you are feeling so anxious.. and don't apologise please! I have had the waking early thing too but it tends to go in phases-It is horrid though, watching the clock tick round and longing to grab a few hours more sleep before you have to get up! At the moment I am sleeping ok (though still have to get up to the loo twice in the night) but I don't need much anyway-about 5- 6 hrs usually... I miss the days when I used to enjoy a lie in! Like you, I have never experienced the endorphin rush that exercise is supposed to give you either! How long have you been on Prozac-are you on hrt as well?
Diamonds and pearls x

[Diamonds and pearls 53]

Siverlady, Thanks for the link-I can understand the cortisol levels causing that reaction due to stress but I don't think I am any more stressed than usual-I guess I am a worrier though so perhaps it is a subconscious thing. Blood sugar-hmm,how do you keep that up during the night time?..perhaps I should have a snack before bed?

Diamonds and pearls x

[CLKD]

I used to eat every 3 hours throughout 24 …….. if the puppy needed a comfort break in the early hours then I had a biscuit ready to eat before I went back to sleep - she soon learned where they were  ……….. so if you go across to the bathroom in the night, have a RichT to nibble before you drop off!

[Rowan]

DP have a couple of Weetabix with milk, a drop of maple syrup is good with it, just before you go to bed,  it will help with sleep and stop the drop in blood sugar.

[honeybun]

I have to say I have never understood the link between low blood sugar and anxiety. Being married to a type 1 diabetic I probably know what low blood sugar looks like more than most.
What I understand as low glucose levels bears no resemblance to a feeling of anxiety. Neither do any of the low blood sugar symptoms mimic any feelings of the dread that anxiety sufferers have to endure.

It's one of my sore points so I apologise in advance, but if more have seen what I have...ie hubby having a hypo then we would not toss around the term low blood sugars. Perhaps a bit hungry would be a better term.
I am just normal but I have tested with hubbies glucose meter and not once have I ever dropped blow acceptable levels and I suspect unless you are diabetic that not many of us do.
If anyone Google's low blood sugar then you can see the symptoms and how to deal with them.
If a biscuit is all it takes then think yourself very lucky. We need an ambulance.

Sorry again but this pushes all of my buttons.


Honeyb
x

[Suzyq]

Hb I agree. I am type 1 diabetic and have regular hypo's due to exercise regime etc. it is nothing like an anxiety attack.

[honeybun]

Thanks Suzy

At least I know someone gets it and I am sure you agree there is no comparison.
When you are armed with an emergency glucose kit to inject into yourself or your other half then it kinds of brings it into proportion.


Honeyb
x

[Limpy]

Honeyb - Suzyq

Proper hypo's are definitely a different thing to brief episodes of low blood glucose/sugar.

My blood was tested as being very low in glucose prior to an op.  Whilst I didn't feel good, I was mostly in control of myself. Mind you, I was sh-- scared because this op was dismissed by NHS neurologists. That might explain the anxiety component........     However, said op went ok ish for a bit.

[honeybun]

Your low levels were probably down to fasting before an operation.

I am sure we have all felt a bit wobbly if we go too long without eating. I know I have and at this point have tested with a glucose monitor. It's been on the low side of normal but not low enough to call it low blood sugar.

Honeyb
x