Anxiety causing lack of sleep

[hotubhannah]

On a regular basis I do not sleep due to work worries/anxiety . Tonight is one of them. (I suspect being perimenopausal doesn't help either) . A big part of me wants to ring in sick tomorrow (desk based wfh role, I'm a relatively senior manager) I know I'll be exhausted and tetchy, I more than likely won't because I never have (I've only.ever had 1 days sick.in 4 yrs) and work worries are usually not as bad in day light. That said I'm so fed up with work the culture is awful at the moment and it used to be so lovely we are going through change and there is a lot of blame and land grabbing. Can you give me some rationale advice as to how.to.manage work anxiety, do you ever take a day off due to no sleep?

[Molly333]

When I'm stressed at work it always affects my sleep too. Ice learned that if i dont change sonething about my stress the situation gets worse and all elements of my life are effected by the lack of sleep . In all honesty I would get signed off and take time to reflect on what u can change . I work front line health and know through the patients that I see that u need to look after you here !

[memost]

I often find myself lying awake with work worries - and like you say they are often completely blown out of proportion - nothing is as bad when I wake up the next morning - in my experience when it's not work it will be something else. Meditation helps to still your mind - but it takes a lot of practice, alcohol makes it a lot worse, write things down on a do list when they hit you at night, often I listen to podcasts that are funny or interesting - takes my mind off the worry.
There was only one day it has affected me at work - I felt sick - had a nap...but didn't take the day off - I wfh.
In my experience once the culture in work starts to bucket it is very hard to get it back on an even keel again, takes very strong and determined effort from senior management, if there is not will there will be no way, for many the trust is gone and the rot sets in.
If you are unhappy with work and can't change your situation you need to start job hunting - nothing like feeling out of control to make your insomnia even worse. Don't be one of those people who whine for years about how awful work is, manage your life - move!

[Lushmetender]

I am also not sleeping at present. Things are so busy at work that I’m constantly dropping stuff and my team are overworked! I’ve been taking herbal sleeping tablets from time to time as they let me drift off for a few hours but I don’t feel groggy after. A few hours is enough as long as you can catch up on other nights. I recently also went for two other jobs which I got but fell through because I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to leave my current job and team but let me know there are other options. Calm apps sometimes work also

[Deedyn]

I hear you and am going through similar. I’ve decided to give myself six months and if things do not improve then I’ll be seriously looking for a new job. We are just so busy right now and the pressure is hot on!
If you have any annual leave perhaps you can take a bit of time off. I’m taking a few days just next week and know it will improve my mental health no end.

[hotubhannah]

You know its just great to think I'm.not alone thank you. Today wasn't as bad at work and tonight I am tired. I haven't had any wine ( a glass often required to destress) as I'm sure it doesn't help sleep quality. I know life is too short to worry about work but at the moment I can't leave DH had been made redundant so feel a bit trapped.

[Snog]

HRT is brilliant for insomnia OP, might be helpful

[hotubhannah]

I'm on it! Did you watch davinas programme? So enlightening. I'm getting the lavender sleep spray out and magnesium foot rub as we speak x

[TakeYourFinalPosition]

Aw, I’m sorry you’re struggling. I’ve been in a similar situation... I didn’t take time off because I felt it’d make me an easy target for blame/land grabbing if I was off, and so I’d just worry in the day too, but it was hard, especially on nights with little sleep. I’m awful for worrying and catastrophising in the night.

Listening to podcasts while I slept worked well because it stopped me thinking. An elastic band around my wrist to ping whenever I thought about work in bed... going to bed earlier so even if I was just lying there listening to something, I was resting.

It did get better and it’s rare that it happens to me now. I hope it passes for you; too.