Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Restless sleep and Insomnia...HELP!

deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi people,

This has no doubt been a post before, but I thought i'd ask anyway.

So, I'm learning ways to deal with my anxiety, and my days are getting easier. I'm not on any meds, but I have this problem:

It's cold and wet here in the UK right now, but after falling asleep, I wake up sweating and have to kick my duvet off. Then I wake when I move. Then I fall asleep again and wake up having disturbing dreams, then i'm anxious and can't get to deep sleep.

It's like i'm asleep, but aware of my every movement. I'm breathing thru' my mouth, so have to drink water as my throat goes dry.

I look at the clock and it's 02:30 and I think "Aw crap...so long to go". I can't get comfortable and toss and turn for 3 hours and check the clock again - 03:10 "I HATE THIS!"

I've tried reading, window closed, window open, lavender oil burner, relaxation CDs, music, TV etc etc...nothing lets me get into that deep sleep mode.

Actually falling asleep is not too bad, but staying asleep and getting into 'deep sleep' state is just not happening.

I finally get out of bed feeling like warm goats poop and hardly ready to take on the world.

What can I do? Any suggestions for calming me down without mind numbing benzo drugs?


HELP!!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have a suggestion. Before you go to bed, go to the gym. Lol. Lately I've had to go to the gym pretty late at night, and when I come home I am so exhausted I just collapse. Also, baths. Take a bath right before u sleep, they work wonders ;)
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thanks sabishii, I'll try the bath, but the gym is miles away and a bit of a problem at the moment.

I'll pour in crap loads of that relaxing herbal bath sludge stuff that I got the other day.

"Radox" or something....
deleted_user
deleted_user
dont know whether you have tried this but chamomile tea really helps me! it doesnt taste great but its a natural calmer. I drink a cup before i go to sleep because i was always waking up! also if i do wake up during the night i deep breathe and close my eyes and focus on something really nice...it usually helps! mind you, since ive been back to work ive been so tired that i think i could sleep for a whole week!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I think all suggestions so far have been good.....the gym also works for me.....I know you said it's far but maybe you could go for a brisk walk during the day or something. It lifts the mood and helps promote deeper sleep. One other tip that helps me is to write out everything I need to get done, things I'm worried or concerned about, etc. on a a piece of paper before I go to sleep....it helps take all that out of my mind.

I can also say that I can relate to the not getting a deep sleep lately. I feel like I'm in a state of sleep and awakeness and it's very strange and not restful.

Good luck to you!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Just posted a sleep problem thread earlier myself. I am having horrible sleep patterns these days...for the last couple of months actually. I keep ending up at a friends house in the middle of the night because of the enxiety in the middle of the night. I dont know what to do about it either.
Dixe4me
Dixe4me
Have you seen a therapist hun? I recently have done so and they believe I have PTSD. I have severe insomnia. I can't sleep because thoughts race through my mind as I am trying to sleep. I also will jerk and startle easily. All the suggestions here are good. But sleep is a must. Please don't let it go too long before seeing your dr. * hugs*
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thanks for the concern dix4me. I have talked to my therapist about this and she doesn't seem to know what would cause it, but has offered extra sessions to analyse my dreams...I'm not sure this is what I want as I think that the bad dreams are just a product of my anxiety. I do end up with a few hours sleep, although it's interupted. I can sleep in the day while i'm waiting to get back to work...and then i'm sure I will be sooo tired.

Thanks for the advice everyone.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I always find the harder i try to get to sleep worse i get. But the opposite, ie trying to stay awake sometimes helps me sleep (!?) The crux is to not get too anxious about sleeping and put pressure on yourself to sleep. Easier said than done, i realise.

Plenty of exercise and fresh air is always a good one too.
deleted_user
deleted_user
if u are tired during the day try your best not to sleep stay awake, i know its hard but i will help. im having sleep probs and im taking temazapam, and i still wake up after a while.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hello, I noticed you said you breath through your mouth. Many times, when you breath through your mouth, oxygen goes to your lungs first before the brain, thus brain will suffer lack of oxygen. This is a common problem for many people as they forgetting how to breath. Also, relaxation, many of us who lives in a high pace society does tend to forget how to relax. As Sabishii said, she started go to the gym and work out, believe it or not, your body needs exercise to deplete some of the stored energy. So, between exercise and breathing, it may actually help you. Give it a try! :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
the reason you wake up is because you mind does never shut down even when you are asleep it is thinkiking so when you are waking up belive or not its because you are having an anxiety attack this used to always happen to me i would wake up in sweats and wonder what is going on i have now been put onto meds that help me sleep and keep me asleep, you must learn to relax and teh gym is a very good option because you are using aderline up and also realsing endorphins which is the happy hormone, have you tried yoga or meditaion becuause it gets your body in tune with your mind it really helps me hope u get a goods nite sleep.
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