Not-So-Good Morning

For some anxiety sufferers, the darkest hours are just after dawn. But there is hope for a sunnier start to each day.

- Jennifer King Lindley

AT NIGHT I DRIFT OFF to sleep with blissful ease. But come 6 a.m., I’m a wreck. Unanswered emails and a reminder of an upcoming dental appointment (inflamed pocket?!) escalate to existential terrors: What wrong turn did I take to make such a mess of my life? All before my feet hit the floor.

Although “morning anxiety” isn’t listed in the psychologist’s bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it’s a relatively common complaint, says Ellen Hendriksen, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. The anxiety-prone frequently open their eyes to a looming gauntlet of perceived must-dos. Meanwhile, levels of the body’s main stress hormone, which have been rising during the wee hours, surge to a crescendo about a half hour after wakeup time, says Ashley Kendall, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Chicago. This “cortisol awakening response” is thought to have evolved, at least in part, to energize us for the day’s challenges, but it may make some people feel more panicky than plucky.

The good news: There are steps you can take to ease a.m. anxiety ASAP. Start with these tonight (but if morning stress persists, consult a professional).

HEED AN EARLY LAST CALL FOR ALCOHOL