Not-So-Good Morning
The Oprah Magazine|September 2019

For some anxiety sufferers, the darkest hours are just after dawn. But there is hope for a sunnier start to each day.

Jennifer King Lindley
Not-So-Good Morning

AT NIGHT I DRIFT OFF to sleep with blissful ease. But come 6 a.m., I’m a wreck. Unanswered emails and a reminder of an upcoming dental appointment (inflamed pocket?!) escalate to existential terrors: What wrong turn did I take to make such a mess of my life? All before my feet hit the floor.

Although “morning anxiety” isn’t listed in the psychologist’s bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it’s a relatively common complaint, says Ellen Hendriksen, PhD, a clinical psychologist at Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. The anxiety-prone frequently open their eyes to a looming gauntlet of perceived must-dos. Meanwhile, levels of the body’s main stress hormone, which have been rising during the wee hours, surge to a crescendo about a half hour after wakeup time, says Ashley Kendall, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Chicago. This “cortisol awakening response” is thought to have evolved, at least in part, to energize us for the day’s challenges, but it may make some people feel more panicky than plucky.

The good news: There are steps you can take to ease a.m. anxiety ASAP. Start with these tonight (but if morning stress persists, consult a professional).

HEED AN EARLY LAST CALL FOR ALCOHOL

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2019 من The Oprah Magazine.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2019 من The Oprah Magazine.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من THE OPRAH MAGAZINE مشاهدة الكل
The Perfect Gift Book for Everyone on Your List
The Oprah US

The Perfect Gift Book for Everyone on Your List

Sumptuous reads that look as lovely on your coffee table as they do on your bedside table.

time-read
4 mins  |
Volume 3. No 4 - 2023
Long Live YOU!
The Oprah US

Long Live YOU!

A head-to-toe guide to staying strong, sharp, healthy, and happy well into your platinum years.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Volume 3. No 4 - 2023
How to Manage Holiday Stress
The Oprah US

How to Manage Holiday Stress

Want to avoid family drama this year? Here are three ways to pregame.

time-read
2 mins  |
Volume 3. No 4 - 2023
How Makeup Artists Do the Holidays
The Oprah US

How Makeup Artists Do the Holidays

Time to put your party face on! These glam pros are sharing a look they love—and modeling it themselves.

time-read
3 mins  |
Volume 3. No 4 - 2023
On Everyone's Lips
The Oprah US

On Everyone's Lips

Carol Rasheed, the head makeup artist on The Color Purple, gives us a peek behind the scenes-and, thanks to her new lipstick collection, a memento.

time-read
2 mins  |
Volume 3. No 4 - 2023
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW Survival Guide
The Oprah US

THE MOTHER-IN-LAW Survival Guide

Ding-dong, she's here! But fear not-so are we, with advice on managing this singular relationship with grace, humor, and lots of heart.

time-read
10 mins  |
Volume 3. No 4 - 2023
The Enduring Power The Color Purple
The Oprah US

The Enduring Power The Color Purple

It has captivated audiences as a novel, a movie, and a Broadway musical. On the eve of its latest incarnation, a sweeping musical feature film out on Christmas Day, we celebrate Alice Walker's universal saga of resilience and redemption with behind-the-scenes stories from the new book Purple Rising.

time-read
3 mins  |
Volume 3. No 4 - 2023
Who (or What) Do You Need to Thank?
The Oprah US

Who (or What) Do You Need to Thank?

Gratitude isn't just a topic for your annual turkey dinner. It's been scientifically shown to improve your health eating depression, boosting immunity, and lowering stress. These thank-you notes (plus an ode to a heartbreakingly loyal pup) will inspire you to make it a daily practice.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Volume 3. No 4 - 2023
Beam Me Up
The Oprah US

Beam Me Up

Bethany Heitman's self-esteem was tied to her clear skin, so dark spots sent her spiraling. Then she saw the light.

time-read
3 mins  |
Volume 3. No 3 - 2023
Turn Around, Bright Eyes
The Oprah US

Turn Around, Bright Eyes

After years of despising the puffy bags under her eyes, Rae Ann Herman found a surgeon she trusted and woke up refreshed in every way.

time-read
2 mins  |
Volume 3. No 3 - 2023