It is normal. My doctor gave me anxiety meds (which I was stubborn and didn't take them)....when I did decide to take them, he told me I was no longer a basket case....pfffft...

You need to vent and if possible, seek counseling....does your company offer and Employee Assistance Program?

Hang in there...we will not let you sink....just make sure you take the lifesaver...

What was your first instinct, other than waking up?

Was the TV on?
Do you live close to a highway?

Sometimes there's a reason, sometimes it just seems like it's your body freaking itself out; rather than wait for someone to mess you up, your body does all the work for them ahead of time, punches out and calls it a day.

I have this too. It gets worse if I stop exercising or have more stress. Try to make sure you are eating well, getting exercise every day and not overdoing the caffeine. Go to bed about the same time and don't watch any exciting shows or do work in the bedroom.

I think it's perfectly normal. I still have nights like that sometimes, but they are fewer and farther between. When it happens I try to breathe deeply, stretch, and tell myself that I am a small part of this vast universe and not to take myself so seriously. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Anxiety meds do help with free-floating anxiety when it continues and other methods don't seem to be cutting it. Sorry this was your morning - that is an awful feeling.

I been there too.

The advice here is good. You must get adequate sleep to heal so do whatever you have to do to get some regular sleep.

Vince Lombardi used to tell his players to obey curfew because "lack of sleep will make cowards of us all". He wanted to win football games. We need to win against the pain and it takes rest to let the body do its healing routines.

If you object to meds, you might try milk or Tylenol PM, or whatever helps you sleep. If the problem is not getting to sleep but staying asleep, my guess is that your mind is processing anxiety in the night and waking you up. You may need something to reduce anxiety.

THIS IS ALL NORMAL part of the roller coaster of pain. Hang in there. These bouts will pass but it takes time for the brain to adjust to your new situation. We all experience the pain.

Suggest you discuss with a professional all your options and medical condition. Anxiety can reduce your immune system, I believe.

Good luck - time heals the pain but none of us wants to wait that long.

RR99

3:30 was my time too.
Too early to get ready for work and too late to get some meaningful shut eye.

Try putting something else other than your circumstances in your mind before falling alseep.
Think of good childhood memories, family holidays (NO STBX), think of a calm restful meadows etc.
Also read something before you go to sleep. NOT how to survive divorce, but perhaps something like "the monk who sold his ferrari". I did alot of reading when I was going through a divorce. It helped me.

This too will come to an end.
I kept saying to myself that at some point, everything ends, even pain and sadness.
I also tell myself that there is nothing I can do at 3:30 in the morning about ANYTHING. If my mind still is fighting me, I make a list of what I think I should do and promise to tackle it first thing in the morning.
I never do.

It will end! Promise!

First of all Rman...I have to read your whole posts before I know if you're being serious or not!...great sense of humor - helps in healing...but, yes its awful to wake up that way and I am sure it is completely normal...My counsellor assures me that I'm not a "crazy" so atleast I guess its normal ;) try to find something relaxing that will stop your mind from wandering to a "bad" place...have a journal by your bed, a good book, take a bath...I dunno what guys do! lol...but this too shall pass...

Normal for $1000 Alex. I would get 2 hours sleep, and wake up the same way, the ONLY thing that would curtail, curb, or temporarily dismiss this feeling was exercise.

To me its normal...ive been waking up around that time and sometime earlier for the 4 months of my seperation and divorce...

Im sure it will go away eventually and we can all sleep properly.

I remember having those types of feelings for what seemed like months. It took me a while to get settled. It seemed that I would have those feelings all day long. It's the perfect diet though. I think I dropped 11 pounds during that time.

This is still normal for me too Rman, when my kids are here with me i can sleep like a baby. But the rest of the week i pound nyquil to get some sleep. but like monkeyboy said i've lost weigth due to the fact that i cant eat and what i eat seems to come out in few hours as liquid.

I have recently started waking up before the alarm thinking about D-day.

So the roller coaster of pain comes and goes.

I wish you all the best.

RR99