Stress Center Peer Support

I was going through the program, skipped the program on diet, (because of a health issue that dictates my diet), and seemed to have lost my way with the program since then.

I don't know what is going on with me. I started having severe panic and anxiety attacks again after having them under control for 23 years. These attacks are so much worse than the ones I first had, and let me tell you those were horrible. I didn't know what was going on back then, all I knew was that I was going to lose my mind and hurt someone.

They hit me again 10 weeks ago. The tapes have helped me talk myself down, so I know the program is great, but I have lost my way. I have anxiety 24/7, I have anxiety attacks, sometimes several times a day. I cry all the time, and I can't sleep with out the help of meds. Sometimes I spend the night just starting to doze off, and then jerking back awake. I do this over and over and over again, until I can't stand it anymore and then the panic starts, sometimes I can talk myself down, others times I can't. Can anyone relate?

I just feel like everyone else here sleeps great, or at least better than I do, and can manage better. My sleep issues really take me on an emotional rollar coaster, and I am having trouble breaking the night time fear cycle. Right now, my legs are actually shaking just thinking about going to sleep in just a few hours. The program is full of great ideas to deal with daytime anxiety, and panic, but my problem isn't covered that much. It's hard to "get busy" in the middle of the night. It's hard to focus on the now, instead of the way my body feels in the middle of the night.

I play the relaxation cd every night, several times a night to get me through the night.

Please, someone kick me in the butt, and help me get me back on track.

It's true, the only person that can help you, is you. I have kicked my own butt, and started back on lesson two today.

How about we kick each other's butts. I am having a low period right now, and am in need of support.

One thing that has helped me in the night is knitting. It is quiet and relaxing, and you won't wake anyone up. If I can't sleep or I'm feeling nervous, I go to the livingroom and turn the t.v. on quiet and grab my knitting needles. That usually works.

For me, it is easy to say "this will end" but I have a hard time actually believing it.

I am also the exact opposite. I dread waking up ion the morning. Mornings are my absolute worst, I wake up skaing and sometimes I get so nervous, I dry-heave. So what I've done is right away when I wake up, I get right on the computer (to this site) and see what's going on. It has helped me tremendously. Maybe you can try that when you can't sleep. Search the site and look for tools/ideas/feedback.

I hope this has helped.

Beth

Be-Positive- You are definitely not the only one here with sleep problems. There were many, many in the past posts that have this problem. A few months ago we had several discussions on sleep problems. There were a lot of good ideas brought up so maybe you could go thru some of the earlier posts to find some of them as there were so many I can't remember them all.

Dear Be-Positive: Mary is right, there are many of us who have a difficult time sleeping.
I'm glad you're back on the Program. Therein
lies the success you'll have to overcome this again. After all, you overcame once, you'll do it again. Fear is a hobbible thing, trust me, I think we all know just how horrible it is, but don't give up. Sleep as long as you can. When you wake up - use positive self talk and know that not sleeping is not a crime, you haven't done anything wrong, its part of the process. Please be kind to yourself and know that others are out there pulling for you. Laura

Thanks for the kind words. When I feel anxious especially in the morning, I tend to grab the computer until my anxieties calm down, and sometimes that's very early in the morning.

Beth, I have found that if I have a light snack before I go to bed, something like half a bagel and cream cheese, I don't wake feeling so shaky, with the dry heaves, when I wake up.

I'm so sorry to hear about this, I really feel for you.

Have you ever been in any type of therapy? Since you say this recent bout of attacks has come on stronger than previous ones, it might be very useful to see a professional so they can help guide you to get you "back on track" as you say. I would strongly recommend this.

Hope you are feeling better- and keep eating the carbs- they help release Seratonin to help calm the nerves.