[pixielouwho]

Hi, is there anyone else who suffers depressed mood mainly in the morning? This has been my most common pattern. I can feel hopeless and despairing in the morning up until early afternoon, feel somewhat better, then almost normal in the evening. Apparently Dr. google says this is a thing, but unsure about treatment options. Since injuring my back I have had some bad evenings too, but mornings are always worse.

[mote.of.soul]

Hi,

I can't really tell if I'm more depressed in the morning. But I do know after I take a shower I feel a bit better. But, no, personally I think I'm depressed pretty much all through the day and can slump into complete dejection/isolation frequently.

But I have read and heard about severe morning depression, yes.

[HopefullyLost1211]

Originally Posted by pixielouwho

Hi, is there anyone else who suffers depressed mood mainly in the morning? This has been my most common pattern. I can feel hopeless and despairing in the morning up until early afternoon, feel somewhat better, then almost normal in the evening. Apparently Dr. google says this is a thing, but unsure about treatment options. Since injuring my back I have had some bad evenings too, but mornings are always worse.

Hello Pixielouwho. That's a really good question. I have chronic depression and it can hit me at any time but I had many years of mornings being the worst. My lowest point...so hard to get out of bed. If that is truly what's happening for you and you feel better later, I recommend a few things.

Check on your diet...what's the last thing you eat before night...what do you eat for breakfast...if anything. Perhaps you are running low on nutrients first thing in the morning or even hydration. There is research indicating that malnutrition or dehydration can cause or exacerbate depression.

Any alcohol or caffeine in your diet?

Any thyroid issues? Ever had levels checked?

Vitamin D levels normal? That was a deficiency for me one year. Can cause depression and insomnia.

Hormone imbalance? A wonderful TCM doc has helped me with balancing mine...eliminating migraines and reducing depression and anxiety.

How do you feel about light therapy? I have *not tried it yet myself but I had 2 professors who swore by it particularly in winter with seasonal depression. They used something called a full spectrum bulb in the morning while eating breakfast or preparing for the day.

I have a hunch (though I'm not a doc and nobody on PC can give medical advice) that your issue may be related to something physiological. Could be really helpful to look at diet, sleep, and physical health.

That said, if none of that strikes a chord with you, I recommend talking to an experienced psychotherapist. That has helped with my depression. The drugs never worked for me at all. Coping strategies can be so beneficial.

peace and healing energy to you

[T4bbyCat]

Originally Posted by pixielouwho

Hi, is there anyone else who suffers depressed mood mainly in the morning?

Yes, and this makes getting up seem like an impossible task. You sort of just go through the zombie-like motions. Probably what made me not only not a morning person, but more of an anti-morning person.

[Thirty shades]

This can be the case for me.

I have times where I wake feeling terrible and work on myself with managing habits. I start to feel better bit by bit as the day goes on.

Then BOOM.... Each day after that becomes like groundhog day!

[Fuzzybear]

[will19]

I get that way myself. And then I would have breakfast and feel better. I can get depression throughout the day, but it's worse in the morning. When I went away on vacation I had anxiety really bad early in the morning. And then it would take about a half hour to feel OK after breakfast, instead of right after breakfast like at home. I guess that happened because I was in a strange place all by myself. It was weird waking up in another place.

[pixielouwho]

Originally Posted by Thirty shades

This can be the case for me.

I have times where I wake feeling terrible and work on myself with managing habits. I start to feel better bit by bit as the day goes on.

Then BOOM.... Each day after that becomes like groundhog day!

Groundhog Day expresses it exactly. Thanks!

[MatBell]

Yes I have this. Evenings are the best for the most part

[pixielouwho]

Originally Posted by HopefullyLost1211

Hello Pixielouwho. That's a really good question. I have chronic depression and it can hit me at any time but I had many years of mornings being the worst. My lowest point...so hard to get out of bed. If that is truly what's happening for you and you feel better later, I recommend a few things.

Check on your diet...what's the last thing you eat before night...what do you eat for breakfast...if anything. Perhaps you are running low on nutrients first thing in the morning or even hydration. There is research indicating that malnutrition or dehydration can cause or exacerbate depression.

Any alcohol or caffeine in your diet?

Any thyroid issues? Ever had levels checked?

Vitamin D levels normal? That was a deficiency for me one year. Can cause depression and insomnia.

Hormone imbalance? A wonderful TCM doc has helped me with balancing mine...eliminating migraines and reducing depression and anxiety.

How do you feel about light therapy? I have *not tried it yet myself but I had 2 professors who swore by it particularly in winter with seasonal depression. They used something called a full spectrum bulb in the morning while eating breakfast or preparing for the day.

I have a hunch (though I'm not a doc and nobody on PC can give medical advice) that your issue may be related to something physiological. Could be really helpful to look at diet, sleep, and physical health.

That said, if none of that strikes a chord with you, I recommend talking to an experienced psychotherapist. That has helped with my depression. The drugs never worked for me at all. Coping strategies can be so beneficial.

peace and healing energy to you

My diet isn’t horrible but far from great. Thyroid and Vitamin D were checked and are normal. Just had hormones rechecked and still waiting for PA to discuss results. I am on BHRT, but has done nothing other than stop hot flashes.
No alcohol due to taking sleep meds for chronic insomnia, minimal caffeine.

I am going to ask my Pdoc this week about light therapy, trying to avoid meds but I am sick of crying every morning for most of the past year. Injuring my back took away my main coping tools, and it may take more months to heal, so that doesn’t help.

I do see a therapist and like her a lot, but apparently that isn’t enough. Thanks for all your input!

Pix