Mental Health

Effective Ways to Deal With Morning Anxiety

By Dynne C. | Update Date: Dec 01, 2023 12:56 AM EST

Many people are probably not morning persons, like Bella Hadid, who once claimed she has "the worst morning anxiety." The model said she has so much anxiety that it takes over her daily routine of affirmations.

While it is not an officially recognized diagnosis, experts say that morning anxiety can happen to anyone with or without an anxiety disorder, but those who have anxiety disorders are more susceptible to it. It is manifested by fatigue, muscle tension, rapid breathing and heartbeat, racing thoughts and the feeling of dread as a person wakes up in the morning.

Everyone may get anxious thinking about all of the things they have to do for the day as they wake up, from chores to errands and even work. 

Licensed psychotherapist Mayra Mendez explains that a biological process called Cortisol Awakening Response or CAR causes a spike in the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, within the first 30 to 45 minutes of waking up. While it may be difficult, there are ways to deal with morning anxiety. Here are some of them.

Have a healthy diet

While a healthy diet will not cure anxiety disorders, proper nutrition will help alleviate its symptoms. Having a magnesium-rich diet, including nuts, leafy green vegetables, poultry and fatty fish, will help the body regulate its stress response.  

Exercise regularly

Exercising regularly improves both physical and mental health. It helps boost a person's mood, reduce anxiety and tension, and improve sleep. Exercise can take any form, like brisk walking, yoga, swimming, bicycling, dancing, or any physical activity. 

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