Wide awake and anxious - anyone else?

[Wideawakeagain]

I'm wide awake, feeling tense and anxious. Incredibly lonely and I wish I could feel better. On the verge of a panic attack and feel the rising tide feeling.

Single parent and DC asleep. I have no idea why I feel like this, perhaps it's the start of the summer holidays.

On the verge of a panic attack. Wish I could have a hug or handhold 😰

Holding your hand, and reaching in for a hug. Have a cuppa with me, you are not alone ☕

Do some box breathing! It will pass, I know it’s an uncomfortable feeling but sometimes it helps to just let the panic happen and then your body naturally calms down.

if it distracts you/makes you laugh I’m awake because I’m home alone and just woke up screaming in a wrestle with my own duvet and had to turn all the lights on - third night in a row at this time!!

I'm awake trying not to panic too! Everything seems awful in the middle of the night. I'm trying some relaxation techniques.

I get the early morning anxiety/panic feelings too. It helps to remind myself that these feelings will pass eventually, that they won’t kill me, but that I may feel bad for a while, but that it will pass .

Over the years I’ve worked out two acting coping strategies. Get up, have a shower, a weak cup of tea or something, remake my bed and climb back in. The shower is soothing and it’s like starting the night all over again. It’s a lot of effort - but it’s actively doing something and helps to take my mind off things.

The second is to distract myself. I often have a novel on the go that I’m interested in for distraction. Or watch a video, listen to a podcast, or come on here and get involved with a thread on a topic you are interested in and start reading. Maybe not the last suggestion - I’ve become a bit of, what some might call, an almost obsessive RF board poster 😀. It all started with sleepless nights…

Me too. Anxiety always terrible early hours of the morning

No but this used to happen to me. I think when you stay awake too long it can cause a chemical imbalance

I woke up as usual at this time and there was no electric, by Sod's law I hear DD try & turn her light on, she starts crying, I go into her room and stay until the nightlight comes back on.
I go and make a brew, come back up to find her stood on the landing because she saw a spider, I proceed to find said spider to no avail. DD refuses to go back to bed, I end up setting up the camp bed in my room.

We are up early tomorrow as she has a club all day, I'm going to try and catch up on some sleep as I am not working tomorrow.

My sister is having her on Friday for the night to give me a break and I'm so fucking excited to just exist entirely alone for 24 hours.

Joining for a milky brew and a hand hold.

Try some deep meaningful breathing.

Do you have a nice Audiobook or podcast you can put on in the background?

If something specific is keeping you awake, write it down on a pad, and think of it like discharging your brain of the thoughts.

I had really bad food poisoning last night, I've woken up early feeling delicate and sorry for myself (got extra stressed, as a single mother, going on holiday at the weekend I haven't got time this week for stupid illnesses etc etc) so I'm watching old reruns of Dinnerladies on YouTube , it's very comforting and cosy.

Solidarity here - I’m exactly the same and I didn’t sleep a wink last night either.

So jacked up on adrenaline due to a serious work grievance.

I keep picking up a book, a magazine, or listen to the radio but i can’t concentrate on anything but doom scrolling.

I may put my snuggly dressing gown on and go downstairs and make a cup of tea, feel free to join (virtually) folks in the same boat

For all the anxiety suffers there (I have had chronic anxiety) I recently listened to the audiobook of “building a non anxious life” and found it profoundly helpful. Been in counselling on and off for years and it was so so helpful. He describes anxiety is alarm bells the brain uses to protect our body and health but the brain can perceive danger where there isn’t any based on past events where we felt unsafe. He says not to ignore it or shut it down but stare at it, head on and acknowledge it. Challenge the thoughts and feelings and sometimes sit with them. I’m doing terrible job of explaining it but it is really worth a listen and is so helpful.

Yes worrying about the future and mental health for my awkward , anti social 17 year old and their terrible controlling attitude towards me but that's another story that I would not share on mumsnet as I know I would have lots of horrible posts about my parenting so scared to post although I know I would get some sound advice too.

Sorry you are feeling like this. Totally agree re have a shower or remake the bed etc. Even lie on sofa and watch TV with a cup of tea. I find when its a bit cooler too a hot water bottle helps. Hope you drop off soon.

I'm usually wide awake and anxious but for some reason I'm just wide awake and calm despite my elderly car going for it's mot later.

Hope you manage to find some calm and rest before your dc wake up

I'm awake and anxious. Have increased my SSRI 5 days ago and so the side effect of worse anxiety has come for me hard this week. Lying in bed legs shaking, trying not to waken other family members.

I'm up! Having an elective c section next week and bricking it, convinced something terrible will happen to me. I have dreadful death/health anxiety.

Worried about sister's new job. After months of unemployment she started yesterday. Her lack of enthusiasm and reluctance to talk about it makes me think she is not able to do it and will be let go soon.

I hear ya. So much anxiety about so many situations that I can't do anything about. I listen to radio 5 helps distract the busy brain.

I sometimes find a weighted blanket great for getting back to sleep. But sometimes it’s too hot and I just get up. I’m not as anxious if I’m not lying down. just exhausted all day instead 🙄

Happens to me about once a week I have a cuppa and play wordle

I'm spent half the night waiting outside the hospital in an ambulance with my sick, elderly mother and the other half waiting for various tests to be performed on her. I'm still with her and still waiting, 10 hours so far...

Really hope your mum is okay, you must be shattered.

Thanks for the replies. I ended up doing deep breathing and falling asleep. I managed to suppress the panic attack.

First day of the holidays was a successful day out with DS. I wonder if I will keep feeling like this over the coming weeks. We have a break from the normal routine and I feel all foggy already. Haven't planned the holidays well and the ex is extremely uncommunicative but then will demand things last minute.

I hope everyone is feeling better this evening.

Same but clickword for me! Or clockmaker