Sleep Anxieties- Help Please!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:38 am

This is what has worked for me in the past- I took Melatonin- a natural sleep aid. This worked beter than anything because I didn't have the morning side effects like with ambien. I slowly lowered my dosage and now I don't take anything.

I like the idea of one poster who said they named the flowers in alphabetical order. Since I like reading the bible, I used Philippians 4:8 "Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

And then I would go through the verse like this "ok, what is 'true'? What's true is that I am a child of God, I am safe, I am not going to be awake forever, etc.... then I would move on to 'what is honorable?"

You can do that with anything, I just like doing it with something that fills my mind with positive things as I fall asleep. I found that I fell asleep after a few minutes and not even knowing it

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 3:05 am

Just a short note since I haven't actually posted on this site before. (Waiting on my program to come in the mail) Anyway, going through Paxil withdrawal since January 2008 I have had extreme insomnia (far worse than the orignal anxiety insomnia) and learning through other sites have started using Melatonin at night. It's a drug free sleep aid. Also I started taking magnesium chloride at night which apparently is a natural muscle relaxer. Although I'm not sleeping what I would call normally yet it has helped tremendously and I feel so much better not taking a drug, which I am nervous about anyway after the whole Paxil thing. Hope this helps and I am looking forward to starting my program.

klkroy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:39 am

Hi Everyone,

I also have sleeping problems. I have been taking Ambien since December 2007. I was taking a 1/2 of a 10 mg tablet, then a whole tablet, and now I'm down to a 1/4 of a 10 mg tablet. But I take it everyday and sleep great on a 1/4 of a tablet. I tried not taking it for a couple of days and could not sleep. I do the exercise, eat right, sleep regimen stuff but have a hard time sleeping still.
I do not take any other meds and I am not sure that if I was to take an anti-depressent if it would help with my sleeping so that I would not have to take the Ambien?
I do not have panic attacks or anxious episodes but I do suffer from scary thoughts which doctors contribute to Post Partum Depression. They say I have OCD but I don't know.
Take Care

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 5:32 am

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions.

These night time anxieties are a hard thing for me to deal with. Last night I was tired, I felt very good. I went to bed, I was more relaxed than I have been in 2 months. Out of the blue a "what if" hits me. I struggled with it, it upset me for an hour or so, but I eventually won the battle.

Today, it's 12:30 pm and I am already worried about tonight. I am getting ready to start session 3. Hopefully that will take my mind off of it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:39 am

I've had sleep anxiety since April 8 and I'm getting restless. I took Ativan for both,yes it has relaxed me but it makes me sleepy and cannot concentrate at work. Funny thing when I come home I'm happy that I'll sleep but it does not happen.

I ordered the program today and my question to all of you.............Does it really work?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:41 am

I feel edgy, shaky and tired. I have a psychologist appointment today.
These symptoms are from the lack of sleep right?

Melissa work 2 much · Post by **Melissa work 2 much** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:07 am

I also have sleep anixiety. My comes from being scared to fall asleep in the fear that I will have an attack during the night, have a heart attack or not wake up at all. I'm getting really tired of this and the lack of sleep. I worry about attacks and sleeping all day long. I can go a couple of weeks and it not bother me, then all of a sudden it's back and it takes awhile to get rid of it. I'm thinking about going back to the doctor again even though I have a yearly check-up in 3 weeks.

HELP!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 8:00 am

zazel_2001, yes, the program does work. I am only on week 3 and have experienced a lot of improvement and my limitations are starting to go away.

Sleep is something that is still tough for me. Sometimes, I sleep well and other times I do not. When I don't, my anxiety can be at it's worst. So, I try to tell myself, "It's OK, I didn't sleep well last night, but slept enough that I can make this a good day anyway. I'll sleep better tonight."

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 03, 2008 12:27 pm

I have had insomnia all my life but when my anxiety started four months ago it always was much worse at night and I couldn't sleep at all. I would pace the floor for eight hours straight. The less sleep the worse may anxiety got - it ws a vicious cycle. I begged my doctor to give me something to sleep and I usually don't want to take any medication. She ordered me an anti anxiety medicine that made me feel like a zombie. I tried every natural homeopathic and herbal remedy that I could but nothing helped. I even tried meletonin. Finally a friend gave me some valium. I cut the tablet in half and took it before bed. I still woke up every hour but was able to go to back slepp. Thenext night I did the same thing. My anxiety symptoms started going away. I skipped using it a couple of nights and then took another one. Right now I take a half tablet about every four days. If I don't take it on the fourth night I usually don't sleep. I don't want to get addicted to valium but all I am taking right now amounts to 1 10 mg tablet a week. My doctor refuses to give me a perscrition for it and told me to take ambien instead but that makes me feel weird. All I know is that if I don't sleep I feel terrible the next day. I can't advise doing what I am doing- I mean I know I shouldn't be taking a friend's persription but I got to the point where I was desperate. Right now this is what works for me. Good luck and don't stress about taking the meds - you need the sleep!

Good Luck
Debbe

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun May 04, 2008 12:13 am

When my anxiety disorder triggered back in APRIL 2005, 1 of the severe side effects was extreme insomnia. The anxiety med I was on @ 3x's per day was not enough to help me sleep. I was only averaging 1-2 hrs per every 24 hrs. Long story short, my therapist prescribed 2 sleep aids for me - that IN CONJUNCTION - worked for me. Gradually, I was able to get off ALL SLEEP AIDS & ANXIETY MEDS = Today, 3 yrs later, I am recovered & haven't been on ANY MEDS for 1 1/2 + years.

1ST) The meds I was prescribed were based ON MY SEVERE case of sleep deprivation & under direct supervision of my psychiatrist.

2ND) There were MANY CHANGES I HAD TO MAKE, PERSONALLY/LITERALLY/PHYSICALLY - that were contributing to my sleep deprivation: I had to cut back on sugar + caffeine + junk food + eating heavy late @ nite. I needed to establish an exercise regime - gradually, little by little - I was fat & had all this extra adrenanline w/ no means to get it out - exercising helped that. I exercised a little everyday - WE ALL HAVE THE SAME 24 HRS IN A DAY, THERE ARE NO EXCUSES - other than the ones we create for ourselves. Next, I followed Lucinda's program DILIGENTLY - word for word, STEP BY STEP - trust me, it works - work that program harder than you have anything b/4 in your life & you will see results. Next, I utilized the skills taught in the result. Next, RELAXATION SESSIONS are 1 of the BEST THINGS IN THE WORLD FOR ANXIETY DISORDER - omg, phenominal. I never relaxed in my life - now, I love it. Next, I got busy doing things instead of festering in the anxiety disorder: talk to a friend + visit a friend or have he/she visit you + take a walk outside & allow the world & all of its wonderment seep into your spores & soul - like nourishment for your spirit + buy yourself something - just for you(perfume + a cute top, etc) + get a pedicure + watch a funny movie: laughter is CRYTONITE to anxiety disorder - put on a movie that will make ya laugh so hard, you almost need to run to the bathroom - THESE ARE JUST SOME IDEAS. Next, I started to cut out the negative people in my life, choosing to surround myself w/ positive/inspiring/motivating people - people w/ neg vibes will ZAP YOU of your energy will & determination. I also came on this StressCenter.com FORUM & CHAT - mainly to realize I AM NOT ALONE - something anxiety disorder attempts to make you think you are - I met great people + friends + get advice + help + support & w/ my own experiences - I too was able to help. PAY ATTN TO THE POS SELF TALK DIALOG. that is very key - we don't realize that it is US DOING THIS TO OURSELVES.

LENORE