The truth about anxiety in the morning

Brains are wired for negativity.

Our ancestors didn’t need to know which berries tasted good, they needed to know which berries could kill them.

Brains are always scanning for danger because they want to keep us safe, i.e. alive.

So when we wake up and have immediate feelings of anxiety, nothing is wrong with you.

You’re not broken, messed up, nor do you have a screwy brain.

You actually have a normal and very healthy brain, but because anxiety isn’t a warm and fuzzy feeling, we believe there’s a problem Houston.

Nope, no problem, just the primitive part of our brain helping us scan our rooms, to-do list, and go over the previous day to check for anything it deems dangerous.

Is there a bear or tiger in the room? No? Ok, cool.

Is there anything super important on your to-do list that needs your attention right away? Maybe, maybe not. Ok, cool.

Was I a hangry schmuck to Sully in the car yesterday? Yes? Ok, let’s give her a sincere apology after she’s had her first cup of coffee this morning.

When I started responding to morning feelings of anxiety differently, so much changed!

First, I wasn’t seeing it, or myself, as a problem to be fixed, which was HUGE!

I wasn’t feeling that ever-present self-loathing that was just under the surface but showed up throughout my day in sneaky little ways. Ways like not speaking up for myself, not setting boundaries, not asking for help, or saying yes beyond my capacity.

As I continued seeing the anxiety feelings as the heads-up and potential danger warnings that they are, I was able to move through them quickly.

Because I didn’t make them or myself a problem, I could get through them quickly and move on with my morning. “Just keep swimming…” Dory from Finding Nemo.

I’d get out of bed quickly, feed and let Carolina out, pour my ginormous mug of half-caff, and start writing.

Your brain and feelings are not problems.

The more you can understand what’s going on, see it for what it really is, you can be 1% more compassionate with yourself, show up for you, and get on with making your day amazing!

You got this, Sunshine and I’ve always got your back!