Anxiety spirals at 3am - anyone else dealing with this?

Jan 18·1 min read

My kids are 4 and 7, and lately I've been waking up at 3am in full panic mode. Not even about anything specific - just a general sense of dread. I lie there for like 2 hours scrolling my phone making it worse. My wife suggested therapy but I'm worried about the cost and also... idk, I feel like I should be able to handle this myself. Does anyone else get these middle-of-the-night anxiety attacks?

5 comments473 views

Comments(5)

AAndrew T.New DadJan 18

This has gotten worse for me since becoming a parent. Like some primal dad worry chip got activated that won't turn off.

BBrianRegularJan 21

Have you mentioned this to your doctor? There's a difference between normal dad worries and actual anxiety that might need professional help. Worth checking in about.

NNick G.RegularJan 20

3am gang here too. Usually I'm fine during the day but the second I hit the pillow my brain decides to run through every possible worst case scenario about the kids.

JJames H.RegularJan 20

The fact that it's not even about anything specific is what gets me about these spirals. It's like my body just decided 3am is panic hour whether there's a reason or not.

BBob G.RegularJan 20

I started keeping my phone off the nightstand because I'd just scroll and make the spiral worse. Now I try to do breathing or just sit with it until it passes.