Stress Center Peer Support

Hi Everyone,

I hope I can get some help with this problem. I am through the program, doing great, however, one of my fears that I still have to work on is my fear of insomnia. I sometimes go to bed and worry that I won't fall asleep and end up being up all night. I had a terrible time with insomnia last winter - it was pretty scary to me not sleeping for days. Last night I fell asleep, but before I nodded off, I worried I would not fall asleep.

I got up, looked at the time, (which is covered so I cannot look at it all the time and be obsessive) and convinced myself that I had not slept at all. Then I worried and could not stop the "what-if I don't sleep" thoughts and ended up being up again.

My husband told me I was asleep for most of the night, so it must have been a restless sleep. My son is sick and I got up with him, so I know I was up at least 2 hours because I used my meditation podcasts to try calm myself back down and got back to sleep about 4:00.

Does anyone else have this fear? Has anyone else had this experience? How do I deal with this? I did worry, but did not break into panic like the past. I just want to go to bed and fall asleep easily, like I did before the insomnia hit last winter.

Lisa

I would remember some points that Lucinda makes:

1. You will sleep when your body needs it

2. Try doing some odd chores in the waking night hours. Fold laundry, empty the dishwasher, balance the checkbook, etc.

3. Listen to your relaxation CD.

I had spurts like this while completing the program and even after finishing it. Try not to focus on your "what if" thoughts that is probably what is driving this.

Good luck.

Pujols5, Thank you so much for responding to my post. You are right, my what-if thinking probably is driving this. When I am having the worry, I always forget to do something to occupy my thoughts rather than just laying awake worrying. I think sometimes the worry can overtake the common sense. Thanks for helping.
LisaLisa

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Pujols5:
2. Try doing some odd chores in the waking night hours. Fold laundry, empty the dishwasher, balance the checkbook, etc.
/QUOTE]

I would add that you may want to be cautious of which odd chores you do in the "wee" hours when you cannot sleep. The idea is to distract the mind away from obsessing over how much sleep you'll get and how you'll feel onto something benign instead. Boring books work for me. Cleaning and reconciling finances are two things that send me into an obsessive spiral increasing stress and making sleep less likely. Find out what works for you, but in any case, distract! I would add no qualification to the other two statements.

I have had trouble sleeping as well over the last few nights. I hope that the mere act of writing this will help me. I also keep telling myself...so what if I am awake all night.

I have had trouble sleeping a the last couple of weeks. I was out of town working and never sleep well in hotels. Also going through a break up, which has occupide my thoughts. It has been about 4 weeks since she broke up with me, but I am having a hard time....which I did not think I would. I obsess while trying to go to sleep.

I am going through the program now. I have had the program about 2 weeks and for the first time I am having trouble sleeping. I have never had this problem. I wondered if it was due to the prozac I am taking, but maybe it is just the anxiety?

LisaLisa - glad tha I could help. Good luck.

Cuttingirl - I threw in the checkbook analogy to show that I am a 90s kind of guy and not a male chauvinist. Oops - 90s have been over for almost a decade. LoL.

Hey everybody,
I bought myself a Homedics sound machine a few weeks ago and I find that I drift off easily and comfortably now.It has various sounds like ocean waves, rainforest,summer night,waterfalls, and the one that works best for me-rain.It can be set to play for a timed period or you can let it play all night which is what I do.It is soooo relaxing for me and I'm not having bad dreams and waking up screaming or crying anymore either. I can actually sleep through the night now. You might want to give it a try-and it's only about $20.oo,a small investment for a good night's sleep

DIAA - I feel the same was only I take Zoloft. My pharmacist said to take it in the AM instead of the PM, I'm going to try it.