Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Morning anxiety isn’t an official medical diagnosis or clinical term—however, many people—both with and withoutanxiety disorders—experience moreanxietyin the morning.
Learn more about morning anxiety, including symptoms, causes, treatment options, and how to cope.
SuperStock / Jon Feingersh Photography / Getty Images
Symptoms of Morning Anxiety
The symptoms of morning anxiety are the same as other signs of anxiety, except that they tend to happen soon after you wake up.
Common symptoms of anxiety include:
Causes of Morning Anxiety
Everyone feels anxious sometimes, and anxiety is sometimes a natural response to stress. For example, you might feel anxious just after waking up because of a new demanding job or an upcoming test at school.However, if your morning anxiety starts to feel out of your control, it may be a sign of a deeper problem.
There are several possible causes of morning anxiety, including:
What Is Cortisol?
How to Treat Morning Anxiety
There are several ways you can cope with morning anxiety through lifestyle changes and self-care habits, such as:
Your healthcare provider may also prescribeanti-anxiety medicationsto help relieve your symptoms.
Talk to a healthcare provider if your morning anxiety symptoms:
Your healthcare provider can rule out any possible underlying physical reasons for youranxiety symptomsand provide referrals to specialists if necessary.
Seek HelpIf you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
Seek Help
If you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
If you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
Summary
While morning anxiety isn’t an officially recognized clinical diagnosis, several factors may lead someone to experience more anxiety symptoms in the morning. Causes of morning anxiety may include caffeine and sugar intake, insomnia, increased cortisol levels, or an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Treatment for morning anxiety may include anti-anxiety medications and/or psychotherapy. In addition, lifestyle changes—such as lowering your stress levels, lowering your sugar and caffeine intake, practicing healthy sleep habits, and exercising more often—can also help.
A Word From Verywell
If you’re waking up with anxiety on a regular basis, you’re not alone. Reach out to a healthcare provider to find support and effective treatment options for your morning anxiety symptoms.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYou can experience symptoms of anxiety at any time of day, but some people are more likely to experience it in the morning. For example, your cortisol (“stress hormone”) levels may be higher in the morning, up to an hour after you wake up.Studies show that people who experience panic attacks are more likely to experience anxiety symptoms in the afternoon. However, their fear of an impending threat is highest in the early morning hours.By itself, morning anxiety is not a sign or symptom of pregnancy. However, people are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety at any time during pregnancy and postpartum. Depression symptoms are also more common during and after pregnancy.Anxiety is often associated with nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal problems. Studies have shown that people with various physical symptoms—including nausea, pain, and fatigue—are more likely to exhibit high levels of anxiety.Research suggests that people who are anxious and/or depressed have a higher chance of severe nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy.
You can experience symptoms of anxiety at any time of day, but some people are more likely to experience it in the morning. For example, your cortisol (“stress hormone”) levels may be higher in the morning, up to an hour after you wake up.Studies show that people who experience panic attacks are more likely to experience anxiety symptoms in the afternoon. However, their fear of an impending threat is highest in the early morning hours.
By itself, morning anxiety is not a sign or symptom of pregnancy. However, people are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety at any time during pregnancy and postpartum. Depression symptoms are also more common during and after pregnancy.
Anxiety is often associated with nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal problems. Studies have shown that people with various physical symptoms—including nausea, pain, and fatigue—are more likely to exhibit high levels of anxiety.Research suggests that people who are anxious and/or depressed have a higher chance of severe nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy.
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Anxiety.National Health Service.Anxiety, fear and panic.Goldstein BL, Perlman G, Kotov R, et al.Etiologic specificity of waking cortisol: links with maternal history of depression and anxiety in adolescent girls.J Affect Disord. 2017;208:103-109. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.08.079Weber C, Fangauf SV, Michal M, et al.Cortisol awakening reaction and anxiety in depressed coronary artery disease patients.J Clin Med. 2022;11(2):374. doi:10.3390/jcm11020374Bertasi RAO, Humeda Y, Bertasi TGO, Zins Z, Kimsey J, Pujalte G.Caffeine intake and mental health in college students.Cureus. 2021;13(4):e14313. doi:10.7759/cureus.14313Cox RC, Sterba SK, Cole DA, Upender RP, Olatunji BO.Time of day effects on the relationship between daily sleep and anxiety: an ecological momentary assessment approach.Behav Res Ther. 2018;111:44-51. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2018.09.008Fritz EM, Kreuzer M, Altunkaya A, Singewald N, Fenzl T.Altered sleep behavior in a genetic mouse model of impaired fear extinction.Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):8978. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88475-2Kose J, Cheung A, Fezeu LK, et al.A comparison of sugar intake between individuals with high and low trait anxiety: results from the NutriNet-Santé Study.Nutrients. 2021;13(5):1526. doi:10.3390/nu13051526Aucoin M, Bhardwaj S.Generalized anxiety disorder and hypoglycemia symptoms improved with diet modification.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2016;2016:7165425. doi:10.1155/2016/7165425MedlinePlus.Generalized anxiety disorder.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts of adrenal insufficiency & Addison’s disease.Park SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, Kim HG, Lee WJ, Lee JH, Lim JT, Kim JY.The effects of alcohol on quality of sleep.Korean J Fam Med. 2015;36(6):294-9. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.6.294National Health Service.Trouble sleeping?Aylett E, Small N, Bower P.Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice - a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):559. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG.Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(6):502-514. doi:10.1002/da.22728Anderson T, Wideman L.Exercise and the cortisol awakening response: a systematic review.Sports Med Open. 2017;3(1):37. doi:10.1186/s40798-017-0102-3The American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians.Anxiety and pregnancy.Pasyar N, Rambod M, Zahedi F, Ramzi M.Pain, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting as the predictors of anxiety in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a prospective cohort study.Support Care Cancer. 2022;30(7):5871-5879. doi:10.1007/s00520-022-06997-5Beyazit F, Sahin B.Effect of nausea and vomiting on anxiety and depression levels in early pregnancy.Eurasian J Med. 2018;50(2):111-115. doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2018.170320
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Anxiety.National Health Service.Anxiety, fear and panic.Goldstein BL, Perlman G, Kotov R, et al.Etiologic specificity of waking cortisol: links with maternal history of depression and anxiety in adolescent girls.J Affect Disord. 2017;208:103-109. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.08.079Weber C, Fangauf SV, Michal M, et al.Cortisol awakening reaction and anxiety in depressed coronary artery disease patients.J Clin Med. 2022;11(2):374. doi:10.3390/jcm11020374Bertasi RAO, Humeda Y, Bertasi TGO, Zins Z, Kimsey J, Pujalte G.Caffeine intake and mental health in college students.Cureus. 2021;13(4):e14313. doi:10.7759/cureus.14313Cox RC, Sterba SK, Cole DA, Upender RP, Olatunji BO.Time of day effects on the relationship between daily sleep and anxiety: an ecological momentary assessment approach.Behav Res Ther. 2018;111:44-51. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2018.09.008Fritz EM, Kreuzer M, Altunkaya A, Singewald N, Fenzl T.Altered sleep behavior in a genetic mouse model of impaired fear extinction.Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):8978. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88475-2Kose J, Cheung A, Fezeu LK, et al.A comparison of sugar intake between individuals with high and low trait anxiety: results from the NutriNet-Santé Study.Nutrients. 2021;13(5):1526. doi:10.3390/nu13051526Aucoin M, Bhardwaj S.Generalized anxiety disorder and hypoglycemia symptoms improved with diet modification.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2016;2016:7165425. doi:10.1155/2016/7165425MedlinePlus.Generalized anxiety disorder.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts of adrenal insufficiency & Addison’s disease.Park SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, Kim HG, Lee WJ, Lee JH, Lim JT, Kim JY.The effects of alcohol on quality of sleep.Korean J Fam Med. 2015;36(6):294-9. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.6.294National Health Service.Trouble sleeping?Aylett E, Small N, Bower P.Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice - a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):559. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG.Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(6):502-514. doi:10.1002/da.22728Anderson T, Wideman L.Exercise and the cortisol awakening response: a systematic review.Sports Med Open. 2017;3(1):37. doi:10.1186/s40798-017-0102-3The American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians.Anxiety and pregnancy.Pasyar N, Rambod M, Zahedi F, Ramzi M.Pain, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting as the predictors of anxiety in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a prospective cohort study.Support Care Cancer. 2022;30(7):5871-5879. doi:10.1007/s00520-022-06997-5Beyazit F, Sahin B.Effect of nausea and vomiting on anxiety and depression levels in early pregnancy.Eurasian J Med. 2018;50(2):111-115. doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2018.170320
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Anxiety.National Health Service.Anxiety, fear and panic.Goldstein BL, Perlman G, Kotov R, et al.Etiologic specificity of waking cortisol: links with maternal history of depression and anxiety in adolescent girls.J Affect Disord. 2017;208:103-109. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.08.079Weber C, Fangauf SV, Michal M, et al.Cortisol awakening reaction and anxiety in depressed coronary artery disease patients.J Clin Med. 2022;11(2):374. doi:10.3390/jcm11020374Bertasi RAO, Humeda Y, Bertasi TGO, Zins Z, Kimsey J, Pujalte G.Caffeine intake and mental health in college students.Cureus. 2021;13(4):e14313. doi:10.7759/cureus.14313Cox RC, Sterba SK, Cole DA, Upender RP, Olatunji BO.Time of day effects on the relationship between daily sleep and anxiety: an ecological momentary assessment approach.Behav Res Ther. 2018;111:44-51. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2018.09.008Fritz EM, Kreuzer M, Altunkaya A, Singewald N, Fenzl T.Altered sleep behavior in a genetic mouse model of impaired fear extinction.Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):8978. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88475-2Kose J, Cheung A, Fezeu LK, et al.A comparison of sugar intake between individuals with high and low trait anxiety: results from the NutriNet-Santé Study.Nutrients. 2021;13(5):1526. doi:10.3390/nu13051526Aucoin M, Bhardwaj S.Generalized anxiety disorder and hypoglycemia symptoms improved with diet modification.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2016;2016:7165425. doi:10.1155/2016/7165425MedlinePlus.Generalized anxiety disorder.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts of adrenal insufficiency & Addison’s disease.Park SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, Kim HG, Lee WJ, Lee JH, Lim JT, Kim JY.The effects of alcohol on quality of sleep.Korean J Fam Med. 2015;36(6):294-9. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.6.294National Health Service.Trouble sleeping?Aylett E, Small N, Bower P.Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice - a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):559. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG.Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(6):502-514. doi:10.1002/da.22728Anderson T, Wideman L.Exercise and the cortisol awakening response: a systematic review.Sports Med Open. 2017;3(1):37. doi:10.1186/s40798-017-0102-3The American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians.Anxiety and pregnancy.Pasyar N, Rambod M, Zahedi F, Ramzi M.Pain, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting as the predictors of anxiety in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a prospective cohort study.Support Care Cancer. 2022;30(7):5871-5879. doi:10.1007/s00520-022-06997-5Beyazit F, Sahin B.Effect of nausea and vomiting on anxiety and depression levels in early pregnancy.Eurasian J Med. 2018;50(2):111-115. doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2018.170320
MedlinePlus.Anxiety.
National Health Service.Anxiety, fear and panic.
Goldstein BL, Perlman G, Kotov R, et al.Etiologic specificity of waking cortisol: links with maternal history of depression and anxiety in adolescent girls.J Affect Disord. 2017;208:103-109. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.08.079
Weber C, Fangauf SV, Michal M, et al.Cortisol awakening reaction and anxiety in depressed coronary artery disease patients.J Clin Med. 2022;11(2):374. doi:10.3390/jcm11020374
Bertasi RAO, Humeda Y, Bertasi TGO, Zins Z, Kimsey J, Pujalte G.Caffeine intake and mental health in college students.Cureus. 2021;13(4):e14313. doi:10.7759/cureus.14313
Cox RC, Sterba SK, Cole DA, Upender RP, Olatunji BO.Time of day effects on the relationship between daily sleep and anxiety: an ecological momentary assessment approach.Behav Res Ther. 2018;111:44-51. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2018.09.008
Fritz EM, Kreuzer M, Altunkaya A, Singewald N, Fenzl T.Altered sleep behavior in a genetic mouse model of impaired fear extinction.Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):8978. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-88475-2
Kose J, Cheung A, Fezeu LK, et al.A comparison of sugar intake between individuals with high and low trait anxiety: results from the NutriNet-Santé Study.Nutrients. 2021;13(5):1526. doi:10.3390/nu13051526
Aucoin M, Bhardwaj S.Generalized anxiety disorder and hypoglycemia symptoms improved with diet modification.Case Rep Psychiatry. 2016;2016:7165425. doi:10.1155/2016/7165425
MedlinePlus.Generalized anxiety disorder.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts of adrenal insufficiency & Addison’s disease.
Park SY, Oh MK, Lee BS, Kim HG, Lee WJ, Lee JH, Lim JT, Kim JY.The effects of alcohol on quality of sleep.Korean J Fam Med. 2015;36(6):294-9. doi:10.4082/kjfm.2015.36.6.294
National Health Service.Trouble sleeping?
Aylett E, Small N, Bower P.Exercise in the treatment of clinical anxiety in general practice - a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Health Serv Res. 2018;18(1):559. doi:10.1186/s12913-018-3313-5
Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG.Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(6):502-514. doi:10.1002/da.22728
Anderson T, Wideman L.Exercise and the cortisol awakening response: a systematic review.Sports Med Open. 2017;3(1):37. doi:10.1186/s40798-017-0102-3
The American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians.Anxiety and pregnancy.
Pasyar N, Rambod M, Zahedi F, Ramzi M.Pain, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting as the predictors of anxiety in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a prospective cohort study.Support Care Cancer. 2022;30(7):5871-5879. doi:10.1007/s00520-022-06997-5
Beyazit F, Sahin B.Effect of nausea and vomiting on anxiety and depression levels in early pregnancy.Eurasian J Med. 2018;50(2):111-115. doi:10.5152/eurasianjmed.2018.170320
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
