Anyone experiencing this?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-21-2003
Anyone experiencing this?
8
Tue, 09-06-2005 - 9:11am

Hi,
I have been experiencing panic attacks for the past few months and am getting treated with medication and therapy. It is easing over time but something strange happens every single day. Every day I wake up in the morning I wake up to a panic attack. And, this morning and several other mornings I wake up drenched in sweat. Is anyone else experiencing this? Every morning I wake up feeling very sick, shakey, and my mind is racing. It almost feels like I have had a million cups of coffee before my feet hit the ground in the morning. My therapist said that during a panic attack 2 chemicals in your body sky rocket to high levels. They are adrenaline and cortosol. She said after about 20 minutes the adrenaline comes down but the cortosol stays elevated and that is what causes the shakiness. Any ideas as to why I am feeling so crappy in the morning? I am currently being tested for an enlarged pituatary gland and am wondering if that is the reason but I just don't know.

Thanks,

Rene

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-08-2005
Tue, 09-06-2005 - 9:37am

Hi Rene,

This same thing is happening to me. I wake up with intense anxiety every morning. My mind is racing with negative thoughts and I panic. So you are not alone. I was wondering if I was the only one experiencing this. I do not have any issues with my pituitary gland and am taking paxil and ativan for clinical depresion and generalized anxiety disorder.
I also feel shaky but do not sweat. I know this is very scary, it is for me too.
Elaine

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Tue, 09-06-2005 - 10:22am

Hi Rene,


I started getting panic attacks 4 months ago and I had the same thing.


My 1st panic attack woke me in the middle of the night and after that I would wake up shaky and sweaty EVERY MORNING. It was awful.. eventually it did get better and now I rarley wake up that way.


When I was waking up that was it literally ruined my whole day. I get a lot of unreal feelings and I would be up no more then 5 minutes and those feelings would start.


It did get better for me it just took time.


I am curious as to what meds you are on??


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Tue, 09-06-2005 - 11:11am
Hi When I first started with the panic disorder
I had the same thing!! I did sweat also. I thought it
might be the medicine wearing off??? It did however
stop after awhile--- what a horrible way to wake up!!
I totally sympathize with YOU!! IT WILL GET BETTER!! Judy
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 09-06-2005 - 12:51pm

We are very happy to have you here, Rene. We wish it was under better circumstances, but you're in the right place. Hopefully you'll feel some relief in knowing there are others with experiences exactly like you. Our folks are generous with their time & enjoy sharing thoughts on how you can live with anxiety. It is possible.


I have had spells of anxiety/panic in the past during the morning & @ night. In the morning, I used the belly breathing as soon as I awakened. Breathe in through your nose with your hand on your abdomen & watch it rise. Breathe out through your mouth, with your hand still on your abdomen & watch your abdomen fall. Do this @ a regular rate. Reassure yourself that all is ok. This is a panic attack. It will not hurt you in any way. You will do just fine. Let the scary feeling pass over you or through you. Try not to fight it. Do you have a personal CD player? Find a good relaxation CD or music that soothes you & put in on as soon as you awaken. I have an alarm clock that has 3 choices of nature sounds(the ocean, singing birds & rainfall) that will play for an hour. It's easy to relax to those sounds. In fact, I find it very easy to breathe to the ocean waves as they roll in, then roll out.


I wish you the best of luck. You're doing the right things for yourself in seeking treatment. It will take sometime to get adjusted. Check out our chat schedule. We'd love to have you drop in. We care & want you to feel better. Sending P&PT's your way. (((hugs))) jan



 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2005
Thu, 09-08-2005 - 8:13pm

I get anxiety the worst in the morning as well. I don't wake up in sweat at all, but when I wake up the first think I notice is my anxiety and it seems to taper off a little once I wake up and go back and forth throughout the day.
I am taking Remeron (antidepressant) at night, and Buspar in the morning and evening. I take buspar as soon as I wake up.

Nina

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Thu, 09-08-2005 - 8:43pm

Hi Nina,


I was just wondering what buspar is? I am only taking lexapro at night and klonopin during the day.. I feel as though my anxiety is always lingering and I am looking to maybe talk to my pdoc about taking something along with my lexapro.


iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2005
Thu, 09-08-2005 - 8:58pm

Hi Heather,

Buspar is an anti-anxiety medication, it works like an augmentor for my antidepressant (Remeron). Some people have experienced more anxiety (so I have found on the board when I posted about it), I found that within a week it seemed to help with my anxiety. I feel a lot more calm. The anxiety still comes, but it's not as severe. Talk to your doctor about it for sure! I don't have a whole lot of info on it, I had just asked my doctor about something 'extra' to take along with Remeron and this is what he suggested.
Before buspar, I had Ativan to help for the hardest times, but I think Buspar is more for longer term relief. Ask about it anyways to see if it could be an option.
My anxiety goes up and down every few minutes but when it goes down, although very tough, but not as severe.
Goodluck! Let me know what the doctor says about it

Nina

Avatar for atober
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2004
Fri, 09-09-2005 - 9:36am

I also wake feeling the same way. It really isn't a nice way to greet the day. I know someone else already asked about the medication you are on, the sweating might be a side effect of your medicine. I am on zoloft currently and it makes me have night sweats. I also take elavil at night and xanax as needed so far. Seems I wake up mind racing though no matter what. I am going to see a pdoc in a couple weeks and hope that they can give me something more to take. The relaxation techniques do help, but sometimes I just can't shake the feeling without the xanax. I hate feeling so dependent. Anyway, enough about me. Just know you are definitely not alone in feeling this way.

Alison