576: How to use Tapping to ease morning anxiety

In this week’s Anxiety Slayer podcast, we’re talking about morning anxiety and sharing a Guided Tapping Session to help you calm anxiety and ease into your day.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ANXIETY SLAYER PODCAST:
APPLE PODCASTS | STITCHER | PODBEAN | GOOGLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY I TUNEIN I AMAZON

Points covered in this episode:

We often receive questions about morning anxiety and waking up with feelings of stress and worry. Often when we are experiencing anxiety in our lives it flares as we wake up. It can feel like all our worries are there waiting for us as soon as we open our eyes. Today we’ll discuss the symptoms and causes of morning anxiety along with what helps. We’ll also walk you through a potent guided Tapping session to lighten up your morning anxiety.

What are the symptoms of morning anxiety?

The symptoms of morning anxiety are often the same as the symptoms of generalized anxiety.

  • Rapid heartbeat

  • Tight chest, shortness of breath

  • Physical tension

  • Strong feelings of anxiety, or sense of dread

  • Feeling confused or mentally overwhelmed

Nausea and loss of appetite are also common with morning anxiety

What causes morning anxiety?

Morning anxiety is usually caused by the same factors that may also contribute to general anxiety combined with the stress and overwhelm of facing a new day and the natural increase in stress hormones that happens in our first hour awake.

There has been some research on the stress hormone cortisol which shows that cortisol is at its highest in the first hour of the day for those who are already experiencing heightened stress or anxiety.

This increased level of Cortisol gives us more insight into why we may experience an increase in anxiety in the morning.

Other things that can cause, or contribute to, morning anxiety are:

  • Low blood sugar

  • Drinking alcohol the night before

  • Anticipatory anxiety and negative self-talk

  • Generally elevated anxiety

  • Negative news and TV and violent dramas



What helps morning anxiety?

Waking up gently, try a gentle alarm clock that fades in gradually so you don't wake up with a jolt, or a wake-up light alarm clock or application. Don't sit up suddenly and shoot out of bed, give yourself time to wake up gently.

Skip the caffeine

If adrenaline spikes are causing anxiety, don't provoke things further with caffeine. Try a milky cereal-based coffee instead with a little honey, or a decaffeinated tea. Chickory is an excellent coffee replacement.

If you have been using caffeine to feel more awake, Replace the caffeine with a shower and alternate the temperature or use an uplifting essential oil like grapefruit, lemon or orange.


Prioritize Nutrition

Eat breakfast, allow extra time if need be to make sure you have something to eat that will help stabilize your blood sugar. Like wholewheat toast, or oatmeal with cinnamon. Avoid breakfasts that will spike your blood sugar initially and then cause a drop mid-morning.


Move your body

Go for a walk, do some yoga stretches or follow a brief Qigong practice — even ten minutes will have a positive effect on your morning.


If you are very anxious, try Tapping on the collarbone points while pacing and doing some box breathing


Tap with us on Patreon


An extended version of this Tapping session with relaxing music is coming soon to our Patreon.

You can support us on Patreon for as little as $5 each month and get over 100 Anxiety Slayer Extras.

Anxiety Slayer