Well, heave this is normal, for what you are going thru, don't think that it is all you. I know what your talking about all the stress, it can do that to you make you feel like shit unable to focus so on and so forth, Benedryl does work I have used this myself at times to get to sleep. Are you currently taking xanax??
well, you did do night shift, are you talking about now or more towards the morning?

I have tried to meditate but my mind is just too cluttered to do that. I have tried concentrating on one thing, something that use to work for me, but the anxiety is hitting me so bad right now.

Heave. Take a yoga class. You will be solved. Trust me.

Hang in there Heave. I went through the anxiety attacks. Take deep breaths and try counting backwards from 100. Wrap yourself up in a nice warm blanket...and just breathe deeply.

What's the first thing that comes to mind that brings you relief?

Nothing. I have tried reasoning and thinking positive thoughts. Then I start thinking about all the things that I have to do on Monday. Then it wanders to all other sceneros.

i've been battling this. what seems to be helping is asking myself "will this issue mean the end of the world?". if it's not the end of the world and i can't fix it right now, i'm going to choose not to thnk about it right now.
this sounds kind of cheesy, but then concentrate really hard on pleasant thoughts, like a fantasy of how you want your life to be and create the pleasant dreams you want to have.
hope this helps heave. any luck with the job situation?

Do you have a TV in or Bedroom Heave?

When you start thinking about all the things you have to do on Monday...or anything like that...write it down. It gives your brain the knowledge that it can let it go because it is down on paper and you won't forget it. I used to have to do that A LOT!

Okay, when this has happened to me I don't focus on any thoughts, I just let myself feel and let the emotions pass.

Do you have a fireplace? Making a fire and sitting by it has always help the warmth goes right to mu bones, eventually putting me to sleep.

i havent slept soundly in a year and a half. if you figure out anything please let me know.

I could barely sleep for months. Melatonin helped sometimes, Benadryl helped quite a bit. I have to have the tv on too, but I turn it to C-span, turn the brightness down.. and maybe I learn something in my sleep. And there are no commercials! The book readings are the best to put me to sleep.

Here is a link to something my neighbor sent me. They are meditation podcasts. i thought they were kinda dorky, but I swear they put me to sleep. What helped me the most was letting my dogs sleep with me.. having a breathing warm animate lifeform next to me helped the most.

Sleeping is a tough problem.

Link to meditation podcasts:

http://www.themeditationpodcast.com/download.php

Whow! Very cool AV.

heave, im up and areound if you wanna talk, i never sleep.

-KEL