Sleep anxiety - please help! Positive stories only please :-)

[Roxygirl1516]

Hi all -

Ive always been a worrier, and had huge bouts of anxiety over the years, resulting in me being signed off for a few weeks from work each time.

i tend to latch onto something and go over it over and over in my head until I make myself unwell. It’s very unhealthy. I’m getting worse as I get older.

For the last 3 weeks I’ve slept terribly. Either struggling to drop off or waking up an unable to get back to sleep. I’ve always been a light sleeper and would always wake during the night, but would drop back off immediately, and sleep wasn’t even a ‘thing’, definitely nothing I was giving a second thought to… much like breathing.

Except after my first few dodgy nights, I really noticed it an started to worry I wouldn’t sleep the next night. It’s now led to me being anxious to go to bed, wondering how I’ll sleep, which in turn creates this horrendous loop. I’ve been trying to say to myself, if I sleep it doesn’t matter… I’ll survive… nothing to worry about, but it’s not sticking.

How on earth do I bust out of this? I’ve tried night nurse, works but I feel so groggy. Also the OTC nytol, worked first night but now it’s not touching the sides. Doctor doesn’t want to know. I’m 40 and mentioned peri to the doc but they didn’t even acknowledge what I was saying.

I’ve been limiting screens, reading before bed, warm shower etc. I just don’t know what to do but I’m exhausted and been sobbing today.

It sounds like you have OCD. A friend of mine has this and the way you describe it sounds similar. She uses a therapist to help her when the OCD is bad. Worth a try?

you poor thing, you have my sympathy! Gentle question - are you able to get outside for a walk/a bit of a blow? Fresh air might help a little.

longer term try magnesium glycinate - I use the one from Barefoot Nutrition.

I've had therapy for this type of anxiety-induced insomnia, and the thing that helped me was mindfulness, not in too much of a woo way. Simply lying in bed and focusing on how comfy I am, lying flat and warm and cosy, and how nobody needs anything from me, either kids or work, for the next however many hours, and just enjoying the solitude with no pressure to sleep.

The other thing I have found helps (although against all recommendations) was watching TV on a tablet. Something gentle and familiar (Friends in my case), and I'd often dose off with it still on.

I've found these help with the racing mind and anxiety: https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/health-her-sleep-aid-supplement-capsules-60059898?utmmedium=cpc&utmsource=google&gclsrc=aw.ds&gadsource=1&gadcampaignid=22486465125&gclid=CjwKCAjwtcHPBhADEiwAWo3sJqWBLzsD8raxtuPu4ravIO85cF8vZc4Jv4FnD7kT-9r58Ev-S2VfBoChQgQAvDBwE

It is horrible, you have my sympathy

I’d second what OhBollocks23
says about lying there and appreciating the comfort.

I’ve tried magnesium glycerate and had awful nightmares on it but my friends swear by it! sleep remedy did nothing. I’d recommend no screens before bed, a book to get you to sleep and if you like music a soothing radio station. All the other stuff- no tea etc but hopefully one of the supplements mentioned above helps you.

This is quite a weird one, but it may work. I’ve always been a rubbish sleeper (eyes wide at 3am ruminating on what terrible things may happen) but I’ve very recently taken up reformer Pilates and have noticed my sleep is transformed! Now, whether this will last once my body is a bit more used to it I don’t know, but I’m appreciating it right now.

Ear plugs, even my husband's light breathing can bring me back out of that zone just before I drop off. Then if I'm really struggling I pick a word, for example rabbit. Then say think a word for each letter of that word so rainbow, apple, ball, bite, igloo, tank. Then do the same with tank.

Counting and relaxation methods didnt work for me, need something more taxing to distract me from anxious thoughts.