Hello, I'm new to this board. I've been suffering from panic disorders since I was 10. And lately I've been waking up with this terrible dread. Like I'm going to have a panic attack and cant breathe. Every morning. What could be causing this? Something biological?

Me too! The past few days I've been waking up with a panic attack, and there's nothing that's going to be happening that I'm worried about! Usually, I only wake up with a panic attack if I'm freaked out about something that will occur, like a test, but I've just been waking up, and there's the panic for no reason... :rolleyes:
-GatsbyLuvr1920-

When ever I was in the hospital, the nurses always told me that was a direct sign of decreased seratonin in the brain. I dont know how to get rid of it though. I'll ask my doctor when I go in tonite and let you know what they recommend.

being at ones worst on waking is common, due to fears and worries about the new day
its best to get up and stay busy and dont brood or chew over ones fears
panic attacks and dry retching on waking are fairly common

Hry is right that anxiety (including panic attacks) are pretty common on awakening. It may also be that your medication has worn off at that time and is aggravating the problem.

I agree that it has something to do with medications wearing off. Because when I wake up I'm not nervous about the day at all. I dont even think about it, but that anxiety is always there anyway. I try to eat something as soon as I wake up and do a little excercise to get my serotonin boosted right away. It works sometimes.

I try to eat something as soon as I wake up and do a little excercise to get my serotonin boosted right away. It works sometimes.

Both are very good ideas! Hry's suggestion to get up and get busy rather than laying there worrying is a good one, too.

A therapist once told me that morning anxiety relates to our being subconsciously "on guard" all night - that the anxiety builds up while we sleep. Of course, being a therapist, she would look for more psychological factors than medical (medication withdrawal). I don't know which is right but I do know that it is 1) common and 2) very uncomfortable.

A therapist once told me that morning anxiety relates to our being subconsciously "on guard" all night - that the anxiety builds up while we sleep. Of course, being a therapist, she would look for more psychological factors than medical (medication withdrawal). I don't know which is right but I do know that it is 1) common and 2) very uncomfortable.
Thats very interesting, and makes alot of sense. I'll have to look into that more.