{"id":7118,"date":"2018-01-26T14:00:16","date_gmt":"2018-01-26T22:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/?p=7118"},"modified":"2020-05-01T06:35:19","modified_gmt":"2020-05-01T13:35:19","slug":"wake-middle-night-jolt-fear-feelings-dread-feeling-depressed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/wake-middle-night-jolt-fear-feelings-dread-feeling-depressed\/","title":{"rendered":"I wake in the middle of the night with a jolt of fear, feelings of dread or feeling depressed"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Waking in the night feeling anxious and with a jolt of fear, having a panic attack, experiencing feelings of impending doom, with a pounding heart and even feeling depressed is a common issue I see with clients and it\u2019s a common question that I\u2019m often asked on my blog and on Facebook.<\/p>\n

Here is a typical question you may relate to:<\/p>\n

I usually wake between 5-6 am and have this overwhelming feeling of dread and start thinking of all the things I have to get done. And then I can\u2019t fall back asleep. What is this?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Or this one:<\/p>\n

Does anyone have severe depression when waking up in the middle of the night, but never during the day or before falling asleep. It doesn’t go away until after I’m fully awake and upright in the morning.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Low serotonin?<\/h2>\n

Serotonin is known to dip later in the day and at night and we know low serotonin can cause depression and insomnia\/waking in the night, so my first thought would be to assess for low serotonin and address this if it is the case. I use the questionnaire and trial method<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I always start with tryptophan, but may switch to 5-HTP if that\u2019s not working as expected as some people do better on one versus the other. We add melatonin if the tryptophan or 5-HTP isn\u2019t quite enough to help with the waking.<\/p>\n

There are many possible causes of low serotonin so over the course of the next few months these will be addressed too, on a case by case basis. Some of the causes in include: a poor diet, low stomach acid, malabsorption, low zinc, low B6, low iron, low magnesium, dysbiosis and\/or parasites and\/or candida, the birth control pill, MTHFR defects (with this defect expressing) etc.<\/p>\n

Low GABA?<\/h2>\n

Low GABA levels may be a factor too as this can contribute to insomnia and waking, especially when there is physical tension. New research reports GABA\u2019s involvement in unwanted thoughts<\/a>\u00a0and it\u2019s a common factor in my community and clients. Again, I use the questionnaire and trial method<\/a>\u00a0to find the ideal amount of GABA for each person.<\/p>\n

High cortisol?<\/h2>\n

High cortisol in the night can also be a factor and I suspect this when someone says they wake with a jolt of fear or feels what they describe as an adrenalin rush. Saliva testing can confirm cortisol levels and Seriphos is the best product I\u2019ve found to lower high cortisol<\/a>. Addressing low blood sugar and finding the root cause of the adrenal issues are also key. General adrenal support with B vitamins and adaptogenic herbs are often needed too.<\/p>\n

Hormone imbalances and\/or PMS?<\/h2>\n

Here is another typical question you may relate to:<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve had the worst week regards 3am panic attacks, lurid dreams and wake up aching. It always feels like the end of the world and yet I get up and stagger out to do my morning routines and all is right with the world (apart from physical aches and pains). I have often had bouts of this. It\u2019s a week to go until my period.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If the anxiety or panic attacks are cyclical and tied to your menstrual cycle I will still start with a trial of tryptophan which has been shown to help PMS, tension, depression and mood swings<\/a>. Serotonin support also helps with fibromyalgia-type aches and pains<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A trial of GABA is often needed too and can help with alleviating the panic attacks, waking and some of the aches. Other factors like a gluten sensitivities, adrenal issues and high oxalates may also play a role in physical aches.<\/p>\n

Lurid dreams clues me into the possibility of low vitamin B6, which is an important co-factor for making both GABA and serotonin, as well as being important for alleviating PMS symptoms and the social anxiety condition called pyroluria. The pyroluria protocol, with vitamin B6, zinc and evening primrose oil, helps both the social anxiety as well as PMS symptoms and insomnia.<\/p>\n

Address the basics<\/h2>\n

You may be looking for the perfect supplement to help and while the amino acids come pretty close to being that, it goes without saying that you want to always address the basics. This means making sure you are eating a real whole food diet with quality animal protein and getting that animal protein at breakfast in order to balance blood sugar. The following needs to be eliminated too: caffeine, gluten and sugar. Some individuals do even better on a ketogenic diet.<\/p>\n

Looking at sleep hygiene factors fall under the basics too: a dark, cool and quiet room, no PC or iPhone late at night, no iPhone or other EMF sources close by, sunlight exposure in the early morning etc.<\/p>\n

And we mustn\u2019t forget stress reduction, exercise and nature.<\/p>\n

Address other bigger issues<\/h2>\n

Medication side-effects must always be considered. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n