Anyone been Scared of their own bed!? :-)

mm2bys · Post by **mm2bys** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 12:54 pm

So since my anxiety has flared up this week, insomnia has been my biggest hurdle. I sleep for a little while and then wake up terrified in the middle of an anxiety attack. Then I can't get back to sleep and I wander around for hours, mind racing (I know many of you can relate). Besides feeling "spacey" this insomnia thing is the WORST. I actually feel anxious just being in my bedroom now. Even with DH!

I took Xanax last night for the first time in years and remembered that I just don't do well with it!! I know it works well for many, but not for me. Any of you experience this with terrible anxiety at night? Any other suggestions??

Thx.

Karmomma4 · Post by **Karmomma4** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:05 pm

Totally had a similar experience I went through about a two week period in the fall. It was horrible I would spend the whole day obsessing over sleep and then of course would set myself up for a night of no sleep. I ended up taking Ambien a couple nights and some how my routine to back to normal I havent had trouble since. I will say the day after taking ambien you feel awful so it is a hard drug to reccomend. Best wishes.

Jenbepositive · Post by **Jenbepositive** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 1:43 pm

I use to be so afraid to go to sleep because every night I would wake up around one or two in a full blown panic. It was so scary. I know just what you mean about wandering around the house. I would do the same thing I think to try to get my mind somewhere else or just because I didn't know what else to do. I would be so happy when morning got there.

Now it is opposite for me. I sleep great at night now without any medicine and I have morning anxiety. I started Zoloft and since then it has helped me with my panic but the anxiety is still there daily just not half as bad. I use to take xanax when I would wake up in a panic and it would really help me. Maybe you could try another kind of medicine since the xanax doesnt do good for you. I will keep you in my prayers and just know that you are not alone. I didnt think there was any hope for me and now I feel like a new person and you will too. Good luck with everything.

Love,
Jen

bevhembree · Post by **bevhembree** » Sun Jan 27, 2008 2:19 pm

I look forward to bed time. It is my "safe time." But on the other hand it is the worst time because I can't fall asleep and lay there for hours. If I do get asleep, it never fails that the baby wakes up and then I can't go back to sleep. I've tried Xanax, Restoril, Ambien, Lunesta, Rozerm, and lots of antodepressants. I am currently supposed to take one Ambien CR, two as needed. I'm scared to death of taking two on a regular basis. I think my body has gotten used to the other stuff, because they don't even phase me. My mind just won't shut off- it's like a ping pong ball going around in there. It's such a lonely feeling to be awake alone in the home. When I finally get a few hours sleep, it feels wonderful to get a mental break. I wish I had some helpful advice. I'm looking for some myself. I just wanted you to know that you are not alone, and I will be praying for you and an answer to our "little" problem. Take care, Beverly

sleeplessMom · Post by **sleeplessMom** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:37 pm

So I know you are thinking "Oh great, someone called sleeplessMom is giving me sleep advice!" But hopefully you can laugh about it, and I'll share my story. Last summer I found the program and I had incapacitating anxiety and would only sleep 30 minutes and wake up in a full-blown, body trembling panic attack. Sleep panic my psychiatrist called it. I think there are some of us who are prone to insomnia as one of the main manifestations of anxiety, and unfortunately we seem to have that in common. It is funny, I just 10 minutes ago ordered Tammy Barlekamp's book "A Time to Sleep" (https://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/search.asp) because after 16 months of doing very well, I am scared that "IT" is back and I am not strong enough to keep IT away. Klonopin and Xanax did horrible things to me last year...why don't regular doctors realize that these drugs can cause rebound anxiety, and it is not that uncommon? They make it worse! What finally worked for me last summer was valium, which at least has a longer half life than Xanax, and Paxil which I have been slowly tapering off over several months. I haven't taken any valium in over a year but I took 2 mg a week ago when I couldn't sleep, and I am still wondering if the incredible anxiety I felt this weekend was rebound from THAT. So I will share with you the messages I will be giving to myself tonight. 1) No drugs. I think they make it worse in the long run. 2)It's no big deal. If I cannot sleep, I will calmly get out of bed and go read a book, or write in my journal or read some of my StressCenter.com workbook. It is only sleep. If I don't sleep, the worst thing that will happen is that I will be really tired tomorrow, but I will get through it because I have done it before. It's no big deal. Good luck.