Morning blues

coco12

For a while now I've been suffering from feeling down in the morning. It can start during the night if I wake up and start thinking about things. Everything seems so much worse and out of proportion and a general feeling of anxiety and feeling down. Don't know if it's in any way clinical or hormonal etc.. I'm 62 and thought I was mainly over the menopause.
It seems to go once I get up and get going with my day. Can anyone relate to this?

Yeah I sure can!
Am just a few years younger than you but feel the same.On mornings where I don’t go to work (am a shift worker) if I stay in pjs I feel very down so force myself to shower and dress, then feel better to face the day.

Sounds correct chestnut, the first thoughts are empty page and then you start filling them up!

Intimations of mortality? (Sorry Wordsworth)

I'm another who wakes 1-2 hours early and lies there for ages in a halfway doze full of worry and anxiety. I actually feel pain in my chest (and all over really) and have to take a deep breath or two when that happens. This has started in the last year and I'm 73. I worry about everything while this is going on, but I don't really want to get up or I'll be tired for the rest of the day. Once I do get up I feel better and get on with my day, although I can get anxious about various things that come along.

It's not connected to daylight as this happens summer and winter and I'm in bed with my eyes shut. My three main worries are for my children and grandchildren to be safe and happy, what will happen to me as I get older, and will I get all my things sorted before I pass on. Add to all that the state of the country and the world and I have plenty to worry about. I think it happens because my head is in effect an empty space when I wake up. For the rest of the day there are things going on, but for that moment there is an empty space that all the worries can jump into.

I take Waitrose high dose vit D tablets. Very cheap. Boots do the same. And even they are not as high a dose that some medics recommend. Especially in the winter.
And lots of light. I am replacing some dull light bulbs with brighter LED ones. I think you have to accept that's how you feel at the moment and make some positive changes. I always listened to radio 4 in the morning but how have Smooth Chill on instead with gentle upbeat music. And always get washed and dressed as soon as possible.

There are so many causes - as mentioned by another poster, early morning depression is definitely a 'thing'.

It affects all ages - for different reasons. And, in truth, growing old in today's political 'climate' where resources for the elderly are increasingly limited - especially if you don't have a network of family and friends - is not conducive to a feeling of wellbeing.

There is of course the possibility of hormonal imbalance - cortisol etc, and vitamin deficiency. As we age our ability to absorb B12 decreases and a deficiency in this essential nutrient can most definitely cause depression.

This link...

www.healthline.com/health/depression/morning-depression#causes

... gives an insight into the possible, tangible, causes and gives useful information on what to do about it.

Sundays are so much worse! Why is that. Actually today I feel ok and think just talking on here about it has helped.
I'm thinking about vitamin D though, it's worth a try. Can you use just any cheap one or is it better to pay more? I don't take vitamins normally..

I’ve found that increasing Vitamin D through the winter does help.

Good point! I used to take vitamin D supplements but stopped when they ran out because I reckoned I was getting enough from being outside a lot and eating a healthy diet.

With winter approaching and this endless rain driving me indoors I’d better get some more!

I think it is a change in hormone levels as well.

I follow on Youtube Suzi Grant Alternative Ageing. Mid 70s. Very interesting woman full of energy and her early morning tip is to get out into the light in the early morning and get a blast of sunshine .. if its sunny...but just light into the eyes.

So opening the curtains and dog walking early would be on her plan. I find Sundays the worst day and now try and treat it like a normal weekday. If the sad thoughts creep in, read if its night time and not sad books. Helps me. Sometimes.

Thanks all, certainly helps just talking about it here

Early Morning Wakening EMW is definitely documented in connection with depression

I often feel ‘down’ on waking, and don’t know why, as I have many blessings to count.

If I have lain awake for a couple of hours in the night, as I do sometimes, everything runs through my head, what I have got to do the next day, things to sort out, then I start to fret about how we will manage as we get older and frailer!

Once up and about, I feel ok.

I do wonder if these feelings were more prevalent in Covid, the unknown, and have never really gone away.

merlotgran

Some mornings I wake up with a feeling of absolute dread. Nothing that a mug of tea and a cuddle with my dog won’t fix but as I sleep well and don’t have bad dreams I’ve no idea what causes it.

Sounds like SAD Syndrome which I suffer from during autumn/winter months. I wake up with such a desolate feeling but luckily the feeling does lessen after a while, especially with a cuddle with the dog! I’ve found that increasing Vitamin D through the winter does help.

You are not alone coco12 I suffer from this peculiar phenomenon but I have learned through experience that it soon disappears after a very short while in the morning. So I ignore it and just get on with my day.
I have no idea what causes it I stopped drinking alcohol some 20 years ago and this experience is quite common among people like me so I really haven’t given it much thought.

For me, this feeling is at its worst in the early hours, when I often have a couple of hours awake.
I have found that listening to you tube meditations or poetry readings helps me. Although I realise this goes against all of the sleep hygiene advice. I cut down the light emitting from my iPad by turning it away from me,

I can definitely relate. With various disabilities and increasing pain from arthritis every day feels like another day to be struggled through. I find getting up and going helps and I keep reminding myself that there will be moments to enjoy, however short, in every day. I make sure I meet up with people and my volunteer work helps a lot. Listening to audio books while doing the boring things is a great help.

I do think it could be something like that beyond my control but has only occurred really in later life and now the kids have flown its a much quieter house and I'm not as busy by half as I used to be. So thinking maybe some element of that to it also.
It's a relief to know I'm not the only one that feels like it, that can be some of the problem thinking you are the only one who experiences it

I think much of it is to do with low blood sugar..
Don’t get me wrong, I am not dismissing depression, bereavement, chronic anxiety or any other emotional or mental health issues - but two things can reduce me to a limp rag in the mornings- one of them is if I have had a bad night and the other is vastly improved by a mug if hot tea.
And I have come to the conclusion that there is a connection with blood sugar.
(Speaking with absolutely zero medical knowledge of course).
Those of you who remember Phoenix may know that she had to deal with the suicide of her son in his late teens and every year used to hunker down and drop out of circulation for a period of a few weeks. She gave me some advice about those miserable mornings too - have as hot a shower (and hair wash if you feel like it) as you can stand - and for as long as you like. Then your favourite body lotion and scent to lift your spirits and choose something comfortable to wear you feel good in like a snuggly jumper. Then get active- a brisk walk especially if you have a dog will lift your spirits and just exchanging the time of day with the people you meet will also help to take you out of the glooms.
I don’t always manage it, but I remember her and feel grateful .

Our daughter had been ill for a while after child birth. Because of Covid it went unnoticed or treated. It was distressing and I couldn't cope with the worry of it all. I was having continual chest infections. After months of tests I am feeling the benefit of treatment for asthma.
Our daughter is well on the mend now but the worry about her still keeps me awake for hours on end. I can only assume this will improve with the passage of time.
I hope you get the help you need and eventually return to good health and feel rested.

I am 74 and feel very low on waking, think this is quite common. I wake feeling very anxious and overwhelmed - everything seems just too much! I find the sooner I get out of bed on waking the better I am . Like you coco the feeling disappears as I start my day - thank goodness! For me daylight is essential! So in summer I always have bedroom curtains open a bit to let the day in! On getting out of bed I open them fully and sit facing the window with a drink of tea - this makes a huge difference to me. Not so easy on dark mornings though , have considered buying a SAD light to substitute natural daylight. I am fortunate that the morning blues does not last long - unless I decide not to get up immediately on waking.
I wish you well , please seek medical advice if you feel it is necessary.

Some mornings I wake up with a feeling of absolute dread. Nothing that a mug of tea and a cuddle with my dog won’t fix but as I sleep well and don’t have bad dreams I’ve no idea what causes it.

Thanks swampy, I have had one lot of talking therapy but not sure it has helped, I find it so very hard to open up. And am on anti depressants already. Maybe I need another session I'm not sure.

Most definitely!! However, my moods were driven by a host of events which have occurred in the last 18 months which resulted in me seeing my GP.
I have had anti depressants in the past but my GP gave information on where to go for other help rather than give me tablets but did say he would prescribe medication if his suggestions did not help.
You can self-refer to Mind Matters (which is free) who have been superb for me. They can offer Talking Therapies, Social outlets, volunteering - to mention just few of their services. I have had 7 of 8 Talking Therapies sessions and it has been a real eye-opener and included what coping mechanisms to use when you awake in the night or wake up feeling down in the mornings.
My situation started very much like yours has. But got worse over the course of a year because I simply did not know what to do next. I thought I was going doolally - I was really snowed under with redundancy, family estrangements, residual depression after cancer treatment, anxiety and loneliness because of not going out to work and essentially forced into retirement before I was ready and as a result staying home to look after GCs.
Now I have no idea of your background, whether you work, are married or whatever but please don't let it fester. The help is out there.