AnxietySx or Other

[Jon454]

I've had anxiety for over ten years. It's been off and on, always changing when I've seemingly mastered the symptoms, but never debilitating. Have used clonazapam as needed, never more than .5mg at a time. Sleep had always been my haven; no matter how anxious I got, if I could fall asleep I'd wake up refreshed.

Anyway, last fall, after being away from the gym for a month or two, I exercised in the evening. Felt fine during the gym, a little shaky when I got home (like a hypoglycemia feeling). Went to bed anyway, slept through the night but woke up in the am like bus had hit me, trembling and exhausted. Now, this seems to be by new anxiety Sx. I stopped going to the gym and every once in a while I'd get this symptom, sometimes even out of nowhere during the day. Sometimes it will last for hours and will just disappear. What is consistent is if I fall asleep feeling even a little bit "shaky," I'll sleep through most of the night but wake up exhausted and trembling, like I had gone to sleep at 5am following a night of partying.

This month, I slowly went back to the gym for short periods when I had already been symptom free for weeks and was doing well. The other night I pushed a little at the gym. Felt great. Went home feeling great. Fell asleep feeling great. Woke up in shambles. Of course, now I'm getting this symptom even though I am again avoiding the gym altogether. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

A couple quick caveats, I have a glucose meter (from my Dr.) and have never actually had low blood sugar during these episodes. Also, eating does not seem to relieve these new persistent, pervasive symptoms. Also, I am taking .25mg Clonazapa in the am and .25 in the evening, and had been weaning to an even lower dose when I was feeling better. I've noticed that even if I take a large dose if I wake up in the middle of the night, I feel sedated but this shaky nervous thing doesn't resolve. The only thing that works is time. Oh, and lastly, these symptoms can occur on the weekend or during the week; environmental stress seems to have a minimal role. Thanks for your time. Any thoughts?    

[nursegirl6572]

Oh, and the neuropathy you describe...I would highly doubt it was the culprit, but ask your doc about it for sure...rule it out.

[nursegirl6572]

I have been in your shoes...almost word for word...and it was so frustrating!  I thought for sure I had hypoglycemia as well.  It was just so odd to sleep fine, be fine at night and then wake up feeling like this.

For me (and very well could be for you)...it was myself anticipating the feelings in the morning...basically bringing them on myself.  What I did was take an Ativan the moment I woke up, and while that helped...I basically had to re-program my thought process and really work hard on not "expecting" that morning anxiety.  It eventually subsided (oh and then not long after...I began to have bedtime anxiety...nice huh?)  Our brains can be cruel to us sometimes.  But, I learned how to break that "fearing the fear" cycle, and then finally...I wasn't stuck in that "predictable" anxiety routine anymore.

If any obvious medical cause has been ruled out...I would say it is the anxiety, and you are now conditioned to expect it....even subconsciously.  Are you working with a therapist at all?  That might not be a bad idea.  If you haven't seen or talked to your doc recently...that may also be a good idea...just be sure to keep your mind open to all of the possibilites.

Let us know how you're doing ok?  I feel for you...I've been there alright.

[Jon454]

Thanks for the reply. I guess my only lingering question is in all my experience with anxiety I've never experienced going to bed feeling fine, sleeping through the night, and then waking up the next morning like I was up al night or had the flu? I ask 'cause I've been Dxed with "small fiber neuopathy" and am wondering if this is related. I'm thinking not. Others have this type of anxiety I describe?
J

[cj29]

Anxiety can cause all sorts of symptoms, as well as getting back into exercising.  I run between 40-50 miles a week and when I went through my first stages of panic and anxiety I stopped exercising altogether.  When I first started back up I felt like absolute ****, literally, for weeks as my body adjusted.  Furthermore, self adjusting medications like Klonopin is never a good idea in my opinion; always do this in consultation with your doctor.  Have you talked over your concerns and symptoms with your doctor and/or therapist?  Keep us posted!