Why do I feel empty, anxious and afraid after a nap?

Dear Sir/Madam, I hope my answer proves useful to you.

It appears that I also experience this sensation, and I am also implementing adjustments. Let's examine it together. In fact, napping is originally designed to allow you to obtain a more restful sleep, so that you can study or work more effectively in the afternoon.

Furthermore, I have developed the habit of taking a nap every day since high school, which has resulted in the formation of a fixed biological clock. If I do not sleep at noon, I experience a significant decrease in mental clarity and performance in the afternoon. As long as I can take a nap for a minimum of ten minutes, I am able to maintain a higher level of alertness and productivity in the afternoon. However, I have recently observed that upon waking from a nap, I experience a transient sense of discomfort, anxiety, and fear. I am uncertain about the optimal course of action after waking up.

How, then, can we make the necessary adjustments? My own approach is as follows:

By examining the underlying thoughts associated with my emotions, I will gain insight into my true sources of anxiety and fear, leading to a deeper understanding of myself.

When I wake up with an inexplicable sense of discomfort, I identify the source of my thoughts. In most cases, I find that I am blaming myself. For example, I may have thoughts like, "Why did you sleep for so long again, wasting so much time? You should not sleep; you should spend more time studying and working. You are really so lazy..." These thoughts often originate from childhood experiences. When I was a child, if I took a long nap at home, the elders often said these things to me. I internalized these self-blaming words, and at such times, I began to criticize myself in their tone.

Additionally, you can identify these thoughts, document them, and trace their origins. This process will help you recognize your true sources of anxiety and fear, enhancing your self-awareness.

2. It is important to maintain a sense of order in your life and to recognize that sleep is not a waste of time. It is, in fact, a vital part of nourishing yourself, improving work efficiency, and benefiting your physical and mental health.

Once our biological clock is formed, it is challenging to adapt if it is disrupted. Therefore, maintaining a sense of order in life is crucial for maintaining a sense of security. Additionally, the voices we hear after waking up, which may blame ourselves, do not represent the truth. They are simply thoughts that need to be replaced with more constructive beliefs.

It is a well-established fact that sleep is an essential restorative process for the brain. Adequate sleep enables us to maintain emotional stability and clarity of thought, allowing us to work and study more efficiently and achieve a balance between body and mind. My own experience corroborates this: when I get sufficient sleep, I am able to accomplish more in the same amount of time and remain highly focused. Conversely, when I don't get enough sleep, I experience a significant decline in cognitive performance, including difficulty concentrating at work and a general sense of being in a less optimal state.

It is a common misconception that a good night's sleep is a waste of time. In fact, it is a crucial aspect of self-care.

3. After waking up, you can establish a fixed routine to bring yourself back to the present moment, back to real life, and start your afternoon work.

After waking, there may be some confusion about identity and purpose due to the transition from subconscious to conscious states. This is normal and can be addressed by establishing a fixed sense of awareness upon waking. This allows for a smooth return to the present moment and a seamless transition back to reality, while also awakening consciousness.

As an example, returning to the present moment through breathing is a viable option. After waking up, focusing on breathing without rushing to get up and feeling one's own breathing is a recommended approach. Additionally, taking deep breaths, inhaling for four seconds and exhaling for six seconds for five minutes in a row is an effective method. This will result in relaxation and enable one to return to a state of clear consciousness and the present moment, after which one can get up. Brewing a cup of aromatic coffee and opening one's senses through smell and taste is another option, allowing one to return to the present moment in a relaxed and enjoyable state, activate one's state of consciousness, and start a beautiful afternoon.

Please refer to the above for further information. Best regards,

Good morning, my name is Coach Yu, and I would like to discuss this topic with you.

Let's start by discussing anxiety/i-feel-an-unexplained-fear-and-dislike-for-some-people-in-class-dont-want-to-go-to-school-9973.html" target="_blank">fear. Fear is an instinctual response. When someone experiences feelings of being "denied, negatively evaluated and afraid," or "ignored, abandoned and afraid," or "violated, attacked and afraid," it's natural to feel a sense of danger. This kind of fear and worry is understandable. As the questioner shared, after waking up from a nap, they feel a sense of emptiness, anxiety, and fear.

Perhaps it would be helpful to ask ourselves, when we feel afraid, what we are afraid of and what we are anxious about.

Could you kindly share what emotions and feelings these memories bring up for you? And what thoughts?

Could you please share what comes to mind when you think about your high school years? What happened?

Perhaps it would be helpful to consider what you were like back then.

It might also be helpful to consider whether, when we feel scared and anxious, we automatically think of fighting back. If we were to choose to fight back, what would we say and do?

Perhaps it would be helpful to consider what might happen.

We can also recall our childhood, and consider whether there were instances when we were met with criticism or blame from our parents for trying something new, making a request, or even for simply crying. It is possible that we were expected to endure these situations in silence. As a result, we may have developed a fear and anxiety that has persisted over time. It is understandable that these memories may have been forgotten or suppressed, but it is important to recognize that they still influence our bodies and emotions.

When we encounter a situation that resembles one from our past, our bodies respond in a way that is familiar to us. Our muscles may tense, and our breathing may quicken. This is a natural response that can be understood within the context of psychology as a "complex" or an emotional trigger.

However, awareness is the first step towards change, so we can try to reconcile with our emotions. When we feel such fear, we can say "stop" in time, take a deep breath, and quietly watch them without any judgment. We can allow the emotions to come and go freely like clouds, and drift away slowly like fallen leaves in the water. We can also try writing therapy, writing and drawing out our pain and suffering, so that emotions can find an outlet and be released.

Another approach could be to use an empty chair, role-playing, and self-dialogue to create a safe situational atmosphere, connect past events with our current state of mind, and consciously integrate our chaotic thoughts, allowing us to release negative emotions.

Perhaps we could discuss the concept of security. According to Maslow's theory, security is associated with feelings of confidence, safety, and freedom from fear and anxiety. It is also linked to a sense of satisfaction with one's current and future needs.

If our experiences of relationships growing up have left us feeling insecure, with a lot of experiences of dislike, hatred, accusations and neglect, etc., and we have not been able to trust or rely on anyone, and have been filled with hostility, these experiences of relationships will often continue to affect us until we become adults. They will continue to spread to all kinds of other relationships, and we will always be worried and even feel that the relationship environment around us is full of insecurity and hostility.

Our feelings about relationships are often influenced by how we feel about ourselves and others. For example, when we feel that there are aspects of ourselves that could be improved, or even that we have shortcomings, we may worry that others do not like us or even dislike us.

Similarly, when we feel angry or irritated with others, when we have a lot of emotions, we can easily feel nervous, worried about being seen by others, and even worried that others will find out and retaliate, punish, or attack us as a result. At this time, we often feel that the relationships around us are not safe, and even full of hostility. When these emotions are suppressed and not allowed to be felt and expressed, we may feel anxious and restless.

As the questioner wrote, the moment you wake up from a nap, you may feel a desire to escape, but your mind is empty and you are scared.

Perhaps we could ask ourselves what it is in our hearts that makes us afraid, and what it is that makes us want to escape.

Perhaps it would be helpful to consider what the ideal self and ideal interpersonal relationship might be.

Could I perhaps consider what my real needs might be? And what I might be able to do about them?

It is always possible to be aware of our emotions. You might like to try recording what you are feeling at the moment. Please feel free to write about your feelings honestly, as this will help us to understand the causes and effects of emotions, as well as clarify our needs and know what we want. This will also help us to distinguish between what we want and what we need.

Perhaps it would be helpful to consider what other people want me to want. When we know what we want, it can be easier to understand what we need to say no to. Such thoughts and refusals can help us to find our authentic selves.

As Winnicott wisely observed, when a person's true self begins to emerge, healing occurs. It is therefore important for us to take the time to get to know ourselves and face our true selves.

If this is something that is troubling you, it might be helpful to seek support. It can be beneficial to talk to a family member or friend you trust who has always given you positive support. If you feel the need, you can also find a counselor. It can be helpful to have someone to talk to about your concerns.

In our daily lives, we have the option of using mindfulness meditation to help us regulate our emotions. Even when we are busy and tired at work, it is still important to find time to relax, try deep breathing, calm our mood, go out into nature, listen to the frogs croaking, smell the birds chirping, and enjoy the beauty of flowers blooming.

Take the time to truly connect with your authentic self, embrace the beauty of life, and nurture your own inner wisdom. When we align with our core values, we open ourselves to the possibilities of a life filled with joy, love, and purpose.

It might be helpful to consider the benefits of self-care.