Hi there, first time poster, sorry if I make some mistakes…

I have been struggling with my mornings for the past few years now. I have always had anxiety in some form, but after a traumatic event I developed morning panic attacks. I will have periods of no symptoms at all where everything is fine, then it will switch overnight. When my symptoms are present, I usually wake up in the middle of a panic attack, the degree of which can vary greatly. Some mornings I just do some breath work and I’m fine within 5-10 minutes. Some mornings I’m crying and shaking uncontrollably well into midday with all the other fun symptoms that can join in when it’s that bad. Some mornings I wake up retching and hyperventilating. There’s no weather forecast for this, it goes how it goes each day. It always passes EVENTUALLY, so I always just get through it however I can and move on with my day.

I’m not looking for medical advice or a diagnosis, more some life hacks or tricks that anyone has found helpful during really bad episodes. I have started and am continuing my detective work with my PCP, talk therapist, and other providers to ensure that I am approaching this appropriately. I am not entirely certain (nor are some of my providers) that this is a panic disorder and not something else…

However, as we all know, most people just don’t get it…I’ve exhausted the obvious tricks. I don’t drink alcohol often, maybe once a week. I’ve basically stopped drinking coffee and I don’t smoke anymore. No other drugs or stimulants in my life. I have practiced meditation and breath work in the past, but it hasn’t been helpful on the very bad days. I try to eat well, but during the bad times I’m lucky if I can eat at all, so those days I eat what I can. Not very active at this time and would LOVE a fun physical outlet. The challenges there has really been the balance of motivation, access, and my health at the time. If I wake up throwing up…not going to the gym. But some mornings I NEED to move, but feel REALLLLLY dizzy and spacey so…again I do what I can.

Anything, throw your hat in the ring please! I am not in a dark place, I have people and support and I know that, no matter what, I got this shit! But damn these mornings are rough and I’d love to talk about it with some folks who may ACTUALLY know how I feel. 

So what’s helped you?