How was your wake-up today?
Chill and relaxed? Or, jangly and stressful?
Have you ever heard of "morning anxiety"? It refers to waking up with feelings of heightened stress, worry, concern, etc.. Maybe you didn't know anyone had labeled it, but you've probably experienced it yourself, right?
Here is 1 myth and 1 fact about morning anxiety:
MYTH
Morning anxiety is something people experience when they're going through a stressful time, or dealing with momentous changes.
FACT
Sure, stressful experiences and momentous changes can increase our experience of anxiety, worry, and concern at any time of day, but did you know that every single person wakes up with stress?
Cortisol, which many know as "the stress hormone" for the role it plays in our more activated states, is also a key player in the waking up process. Under regular circumstances (and unless we work at night), we have lower cortisol levels in the evening when we're supposed to be sleeping, and then our cortisol level peaks in the morning right before we wake up.
Our nervous system uses cortisol to help wake us up!
(For many people, the peak is around 7 a.m. – but you can judge that for yourself.)
And, even if it's normal, it doesn't mean we like it, so here are...
SOME WARM COZY TIPS for MORNING ANXIETY:
1. Our morning experience of stress doesn't necessarily mean anything other than a normal wake-up protocol.
Resist making a to-do list of worries, or looking for what could be "making" you stressed, or interpreting the stress as a "sign" or a prediction that something is wrong or about to be.
2. Flush out the cortisol
When we start considering a stress surge as part of a normal morning wake up, we can get right to the business of flushing out that cortisol before we orient to our world, our lists, and our next steps.
Instead of making a worry list, drinking coffee, and turning on the news – all of which increase levels of cortisol! – we recommend using some techniques that lower cortisol and increase oxytocin (the bonded-safe-and-calm neurochemical). You can do things like:
Get warm
Drink water
Move slowly
Stretch
Lightly caress any part of your body
Pet your pet(s)
Share expressions of love and caring with someone
Meditate on someone you love
Masturbate, Snuggle, Have sex
Eat a light snack
Extend the exhales of every breath
Keep these activities going until you notice a marked decrease in anxiety and a marked increase in your sense of wellbeing.
What else could be possible for you if you could just start your day a little less amped up?
Here's to cortisol for helping to wake us from sleep (we'd die if we couldn't wake up!), and here's to warm cozy tips for flushing that cortisol out so that it doesn't ruin our day!
We're cheering you on as always!
And sending you love,
Natalie and Nathan
P.S. If you want more than just some quick tips, and instead are ready for the ENTIRE TOOL SHED for managing stress reactions, emotional responses and more, get ready for NeuroEmotional Coach Training. Enrollment is now open!