Where is this awful feeling coming from? I can’t pinpoint it

I just woke up and I feel terrible. I don’t know what exactly I feel. It’s a combination of extreme dread, pain, and especially fear. But of what? There’s nothing that can hurt me. I didn’t even have a nightmare last night like I always do. There is no real life danger, but I have this awful feeling that something horrendous is about to happen and I have no idea what.

In my teens, I was diagnosed with severe social anxiety multiple times by various psychiatrists so I know that my nerves are out of whack, but I just can’t shake this feeling off even though I’m 100% certain it’s irrational.

I’ve been feeling the same “sense of impending doom” every time I wake up for many years now. Anyone know the cause and how to prevent it?

I used to believe alcohol was the cause but I haven’t drank in more than a week.

The feeling goes away the longer I’m awake but still lingers throughout the day.

Hate living like this.

It may be irrational, but the feeling is real. You say you were diagnosed with social anxiety, but did you get any therapy for it? But anyway, it sounds like you need some now.

MarkP wrote:It may be irrational, but the feeling is real. You say you were diagnosed with social anxiety, but did you get any therapy for it? But anyway, it sounds like you need some now.

It’s usually only very strong for a short period of time after I wake up. Now I’ve been awake for a few hours, I feel moderately okay.

ijustwannabenormal wrote: There is no real life danger, but I have this awful feeling that something horrendous is about to happen and I have no idea what.

Hi! So I don't experience this but I think its safe to say you aren't alone. I have to take depression screening tests for my pdoc every so often and the sense of impending doom question is on them. Again I don't experience this so I don't know how it relates to depression (I believe its actually an anxiety thing) but they do ask about it every time. I would talk to your Dr. as they may be able to help you.

ijustwannabenormal wrote: The feeling goes away the longer I’m awake but still lingers throughout the day.

Your subconsciousness is most alert to things that are wrong when you first wake up. In your case for some reason it has decided that you are not safe. Its an error, but thats what it believes and it wants you to know it which is why you feel something bad is about to happen to you. Your body can only maintain this heightened level of alertness you feel for at about 40 minutes. After that it will fade.

i have this too but i don't think mine as irrational,like i can pinpoint it.i am afraid always that something bad is going to happen ,i think maybe is a kind of trauma because i don't feel safe,when i grew up often something bad happened and now i expect it but also is fear of the future.
but i don't find it so weird like i can't pint point it,i feel it as something rational,like bad things always happen and i don't feel safe.but it makes me more depressed.
i feel like there is real danger,i think too many things can hurt me and not that there is nothing.
same with depression this is why it confuses me because they say people who are depressed are for no reason but i feel there is a reason.
sorry that i don't have advice how to get over it,i hope you don't mind me sharing that i feel similar.
i guess one way is i repeat to myself this moment you are safe and is ok.but the feeling is generally ligering always but not so intense