Horrible anxiety, insomnia and sadness

[Daybydaybyday87]

Hello,
Still awake, unable to sleep. Been suffering anxiety for a while but worse since arrival of ds (born 2012). I'm due on my period soon which isn't helping matters as I always suffer from low mood during that time. Sat here watching son sleeping and in tears worrying about if anything ever happened to him (irrational I know but can't help it). Just love him so much, I can't bear to think it. Yet I torment myself thinking about it if that makes sense? Same with our lovely puppy. I look at her and then have a sad foreboding feeling of "what if she got run over, what if she died?" (sorry this isn't meant to deliberately upset anyone). Its like I think up scenarios like this and then feel very sad and anxious. I spoke to my dad on the phone this evening and as I put the phone down at the end of the call I suddenly got tearful for no reason at all, worrying if he will be OK and what if something happens overnight. He's 72 and in good health. Irrational thinking again.

A bit of background. I've always struggled with low self esteem and some social situations and ruminate to the extreme about any negative aspect about myself and really dwell on past events and replay any unpleasant events and experiences that I have been through when I should be able to let things go. I have Aspergers too. I'm currently stuck in a rut of being exhausted with no sleep but being to anxious to sleep. Very tearful too. Sorry if it's a bit disjointed and I'm not making much sense , I'm really tired.

So sorry to hear this, I think it's called 'catastrophising' and I do it too. As you know, everything seems worse when we're really tired, hormonal and on edge.

I have found some of these techniques helpful www.sane.org/information-stories/the-sane-blog/managing-symptoms/how-to-stop-catastrophising but I think what you need most is to sleep. Could you try yoga nidra or a herbal sleep remedy to help with your insomnia?

No advise but I’m here with a hand hold. My cycle plays havoc with my mood and emotional state too.

Sending a handhold, I suffer as well and have very intrusive negative thoughts, thinking that things are worse than they are. I signed up for an nhs self help course but I found this of little help, they just suggested I cut down on coffee and got more sleep. What has helped for me when I'm having a bad day is writing down a list and what could happen as opposed to what might actually happen and it's never as bad as my mind makes it. It's hard to stop these thoughts though! I found that antidepressants did help a lot and have a really supportive gp which has helped a lot. The antidepressants lower the anxiety which helps a little in dealing with other worries. I've currently run out for a week though as due to Coronavirus the delivery date has been set back and I'm really struggling at the moment!

I hope you're ok. I do that a lot too and I know how stressful it is. I find focusing on the moment and mindfulness generally helps. Eg "right here, right now my son is sleeping peacefully beside me, my dog is well and happy. All is ok."

There's that Buddhist saying something like "If you are depressed, your thoughts are in the past, if you are anxious, your thoughts are in the future, if you focus on the present that is the path to happiness" (that last bits not exactly correct , but general message is).

Guided relaxations on YouTube can help. I had hypnosis for my fears and that helped a lot.

Another thing which helps me is writing down 20 things I'm grateful for every day, even if they're seemingly tiny.

Hope you are ok ❤️

Thank you all, managed to fall asleep and woke up feeling a lot better. Last night I was out like a light by 11pm. I will look into the NHS self help info, many thanks. I like the idea of making a list of things to be grateful for and also focusing on the present and here and now rather than going over past events and fretting about the future! It does no one any favours at all