What is morning anxiety?

Morning anxiety is exactly what it says on the tin: feelings of anxiety and unease that are present from the moment you wake up. While it’s not an official medical term, many people who struggle are probably also suffering from generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).

Hypnotherapist Sally Potter sees numerous clients who report feeling overwhelmed from the moment they wake up.

“I see lots of clients who wake feeling anxious. For most it’s as if the anxiety is already present before they even open their eyes,” she says. “Many of these clients have what I describe as a ‘full stress bucket’, and they have become overwhelmed by everything they’ve got going on.”

It’s likely that these feelings of anxiety are bubbling away underneath the surface all day, but we’re hit with a wave of the negative emotion in the split second that our brain realises we’re awake. And once that rollercoaster of anxiety starts, it can be tricky to get off.

Feeling extra anxious in the mornings? Here’s why – and what you can do about it