Welcome to the anxiety board at DS.

You've taken the important first step in writing it out.

As we get older, our sleep changes.

Keep a daily journal to help you find the best balance as you work out the different things in your daily living activities.

Best wishes.

My lifelong tendency has been hyper-vigilant awakenings where I jump out of bed braced for immediate combat. Getting from that mindset to calm preparations for the actual day ahead of me is an exhausting challenge. By the time I arrive at my destination, I need a nap and/or civil restraints.

But anxiety is an ever evolving condition. At 66, I don't have as much energy for hyper-vigilant awakenings and decades of psychotherapy has given me new tools to ply to the new waves and shapes of life. Finding myself awake at odd hours and unable to get back to sleep isn't the tragedy it used to be.

Gentle support while you find the tools to manage your own evolutions, Sis.

"Make friends with change. It's the only thing you can count on." ~Chinese proverb

Thanks arfie.
Right now I don’t know who this person is. She looks the same in the mirror. But my mind is not who I am. I’ve always handled things. A lot of things. Now the slightest setback sets me into a nervous wreck. Maybe your right. This is the new me and I need to try to come to terms with it.
Thanks again

I'm in the same boat this morning. I woke up early and my mind went into instant spin mode and I started getting anxious in my body. I took some propranolol and tried to just focus on my breathing and to relax. I was able to relax myself to a degree and the med has kicked in, so I'm feeling a little better now, but waking up like that always just sets my day on an uneasy course.

So, for now, I'm trying to just slow myself down and settle into the uneasy feeling. I'm adjusting my expectations for the day (they are now pretty low), and I'm kind of looking forward to that afternoon foggy tiredness so that maybe I can nap a bit and we'll see where things go from there. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

One thing my therapist tells me, and I have genuinely come to believe, is that these feelings are not us. This is just a place we are visiting. In time we will move on to somewhere new.

Thinking good thoughts for you and the rest of us.

sishaircut your anxiety sound so familiar to my 84 year old mother's. She seem to do much better in the evening but at 3 or 4:00 am she is a mental mess. During that time of morning she is very sad, depressed and continue talking about what had happened the day before. After talking about a certain subject she will become upset, having difficult breathing, needing to go to the ER. We try and talk out of going but she end up going anyways. When she get there they'll check her out at the ER then send her home.

Hi sishaircut. I'm sorry you are going through this. I'm glad you started lexapro. The side effects shouldn't stick around too long. I had the same effect when starting wellbutrin. Couldnt sleep. Its actually giving you energy that you will see later once you're able to sleep.

One suggestion if I may, have your doctor check your vitamin levels, specifically B12. As we get older, especially after menopause and before actually, and adding medications, or even medical issues, can cause your B12 to be really low. Low b12 causes anxious feelings, lack of being able to sleep and so many other side effects also. I was recently dealing with this and my b12 was low, really low. I take a liquid supplement every other day of 1000mcg. It includes other b vitamins and niacin.

Btw, just days after taking my b12 again, my anxiety ceased. I was wondering why I was feeling anxious every day... I have anxiety but not that bad... all the effects of low b12 went away within a week. My feet would fall asleep just sitting on the toilet for a few minutes.

Brockster..
Boy do I feel ya. That is me all the way. But the words from your therapist hit me in my heart. That I
am just visiting this place I will move on to somewhere new. Boy that gives my heart.

Butterfly..
When I go back for my 3 week check up I will have him check my B 12. Chemical imbalance cans wreak havoc on oneself.

Winter..
I feel sorry for your mom. Won’t a doctor give her something to help her out. I pray that she will. How awful to grow old and face such horrible mental issues.
She is not alone.

This is the second time someone has brought up B12 levels in like the past week. Maybe I should start taking that along with the other supplements I've been taking.

Brockster, yes...however I would do the liquid one. Here is some information https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-b12-deficiency-can-be-sneaky-harmful-201301105780

B12 deficiency can be the cause of many symptoms.

It's a good idea to get it checked.

I have great faith in the lexapro--but it is exhausting when you first start it!! I pretty much sat glued to my couch and watched netflix for a few weeks--couldn't do a thing...but now--months later my anxiety is LOW and I feel GOOD!! so keep at it--it will be better!

((hugs))

Thanks hypergal..
I’m looking forward to some calming days in the future. Everyone says hang in there cuz the lexapro takes a good while to kick in.
Everyone is so kind here. Thanks