Anxiety adrenaline waves every AM waking me from sleep.

Does it get you to sleep and keep you asleep? I take ativan 3 x a day and am careful what I add to that in addition to the medrol for r/a. I am just about at the point of giving in to wakefulness and getting rest when I can. This morning I awoke at 3 AM in absolute terror of nothing in particular - just being alone except for dog Daisy. I tried that 3-3-3 thing where you identify 3 things you can see, 3 things you can touch, and 3 sounds you can hear. Did some diaphragmatic breathing and it halted. Finally got up and took Daisy for a short walk in the dark. The air was fresh and clear and the fear ceased. I hate to think about sleeping with a light on like a 2 year old because I know that is a bad policy for sleep hygiene but any port in a storm.

It is awful.Not a good way to start the day...every day. I have tried a Rescue Remedy spray for sleep which helps a bit, gets me a little more sleep. But then the waves start up again.

tyt : I wish I knew what causes the adrenaline rushes. I think that the pandemic mode really has many of us who are overly sensitive in a chronic case of some level of PTSD. Not that we can compare ourselves to those with truly terrible experiences but I think to some extent the covid news and death of my husband shortly after it started really topped me.

I’ve been getting these too. I also have digestive issues and between the two of these I don’t get a full nights sleep. Woke up at 5:30 am today. Going to be a not so good day.

I have Sibo and nausea 😵 that comes and goes and I agree that plays into it. The gut/brain connection. Hope your day is going better than anticipated. My big coup was finding gloves I lost last week at rheumatologist office. I stopped by and they were in the lost and found drawer. Bless St. Anthony once again! 😊

I've been dealing with anxiety/depression since traumatic life changes last year, including a cancer diagnosis.
I've been in therapy, but have resisted drugs. My anxiety now seems to come in"spells", including strange sleep disturbances and pre-dawn adrenaline rushes.
Every morning brings a kind of over whelming existential anxiety.
However...some days it dissipates randomly and I'm fine...even kind of happy. I try to hold on to the peaceful feelings, but of course I'm always fearing the return of the creepy spells.
So I guess my question is, does anxiety ever go away without drugs?
I do take supplements,exercise, do some meditation and yoga, and I know that these things help at least somewhat...
I'm just so tired of feeling psychologically "damaged".
Thanks for listening.

I occasionally feel waves when I wake up, usually from a nap. Kind of unpleasant, but not fear filled. Weird. Anyone relate? I also struggle with anxiety sometimes.

Wow! So thankful to hear about this problem of anxiety upon waking! I have been experiencing this for months off and on ever since I had Covid 2 years ago. Even before I am fully awake my heart is pounding. I have to get up and take a Xanax then go back to bed until things calm down. Low dose does not make me sleepy thankfully. My psychiatrist says this is "normal" for his patients with anxiety issues. I had back surgery over a year ago and am still suffering with lots of pain except when I am lying down. I know that has caused lots of stress for me physically and mentally. Thanks for sharing. This has been helpful.

I’ve lived with chronic anxiety since I was a teenager. I’m now old as dirt and still living with chronic anxiety, but now it’s considered a disorder. I no longer worry about its origin. I simply take a 1 mg Klonopin and go on with my day. It’s my body chemistry. 40 years of psychotherapy and becoming a therapist myself could not extinguish this little quirk.
I’m not a fan of big Pharma, but in all reality, this is what meds are for. You take the pill that helps you live a normal quality of life.
I was born with strange body chemistry. I’m glad I have found a solution that is correct for me. I do not apologize for it, I am grateful for having excellent healthcare.

When I recently (finally) decided to try a pharmacologial approach to my morning issue (going on over two and half years, see posts above) I specifically asked for Klonopin, but the provider pushed Effevor, which I refused. So I tried Buspar, which hasn't helped the 5 am creepies.
I like your acceptance of this problem as a"quirk", not a curse.