A Simple and Effective Tool for Decreasing Morning Anxiety

Two things happen most mornings when I wake up.

I have to wipe some drool off my face even though I’m totally a nose breather.

I have an anxious thought.

Neither are problems.

I just wipe my mouth with my shirt and have a good laugh.

Next, I thank my brain for being completely normal and healthy. I used to get so pissed and annoyed cuz I’d think something like, “Oh for f*ck’s sake, again?! Is this going to be an everyday thing?! My brain sucks, it’s broken, and I hate it!”

My brain and your brain if it does this too, is not broken and nothing is wrong with it or you.

Our brains are literally wired to look for the negative for our safety and survival so it makes perfect sense that our first thought is negative. In a teeny tiny amount of time the primitive part of your brain scans your surroundings to detect danger. And because our brains believe emotional pain is as dangerous as physical pain, they’re scanning for that too.

So after I wipe off the drool, I’ll ask myself a super helpful question that has really turned down the volume of morning anxious thoughts. I ask myself, “Am I safe?” This gives my brain a “problem” to solve and helps it see that there isn’t anything threatening my safety. At the same time, I’m reassuring myself that doing this little practice isn’t a problem. I’m working WITH my brain instead of against it and feeling like a hot mess. 

If you wake up with drool and anxious thoughts it’s totally normal and nothing’s wrong!

Wipe your face, remind yourself that your brain is healthy and doing exactly what it’s supposed to, and ask yourself if you’re safe. 

Then go on about your day.

You got this and I’ve got your back Sunshine!!