Terrible anxiety can't sleep

[isitisitwicked]

Can some one please offer me some advice to drift off?

Hi. I have the same

I have an app on my phone that plays different sounds, campfire with crickets etc

Sometimes that helps.

When I'm having panic attacks counting really helps. I just do one to a hundred over and over.

I'm sorry you're feeling like this. It's horrible l know.

Snuggle up and read a book that you know well and love

Listen to some podcasts. Things of interest, decent background stuff, it doesn't demand anything from you. But is warm and affirming. Radio 4 do some. Or funny like Joan and Jericho.

Panic is awful. I absolutely understand.

Maybe try listening to an audio book or a blog.

I second audio books. Try one that you already know the story too, start it running and leave it going and you should find that you drift off whilst listening.

Clench your muscles, hold for ten and then focus on the lovely feeling of relaxation as you let them go.

Imagine somewhere relaxing, focus on the sounds and sensations and smells of that place.

Embrace the anxiety. Stop running from it. It is nothing more than an overload of cortisol that has flooded your system. Start at your feet, clenching all of your muscles for 60 seconds then release, and work your way up your body. Do this several times if you need to. You WILL get through this.

Listening to the radio helps me. I like Steve Allen on lbc. I don't always agree with him, but I like his chatter. Or radio 4 extra. It's awful not being able to sleep 🌻🌼

I fantasise - what I would spend a lottery win on, plan what I would do on holiday etc. It doesn't always work but most of the time it distracts me enough to drift off eventually.

I'm the same, normally I wake about now but I've not yet been to sleep. Nothing seems to work for me. Fingers crossed something works for you.

Buddhify App, using the sleep meditations work for me, even when in a ptsd trigger

I’m in the same position OP - been alternating between trying to read and distract myself and lying staring at the ceiling in a panic....

Definitely podcasts.

I am awake. Rarely sleep at the right time. It is so boring

Awake here too I usually put a familiar tv program (or one that I don't have to visually watch) on my phone, turn it over and lay my head near the speaker. I have he volume down pretty low so my brain has to concentrate fully on what I can hear. Eventually it gives up and I can fall asleep.

If there is anything specific you are anxious about can you write it down to deal with tomorrow? I know it sounds silly but sometimes I am more anxious that I will forget whatever I am anxious about so I can't sleep.

I hope you’re feeling better now. I get how awful it feels.

I found this helped me when my anxiety is really high. It's one variety of a grounding technique.

Name 5 things you can see
Name 4 things you can touch
Name 3 things you can hear
Name 2 things you can smell/like the smell of
Name 1 thing you are feeling

When my anxiety is at it's worst I can do it every few minutes. It helps me break my train of thought.

Hope you managed to get some sleep. It's really horrible when anxiety is so high you can't sleep.

Tapping works quite well. I found it on YouTube while looking for tips to help with anxiety. Some of the videos ramble on a bit so look for a more succinct one!

Thank you all. I managed to get 3 hours. I'm on holiday at the moment so felt pressured to sleep as I have a busy day with my Toddler. Fingers crossed tonight will be better. Hearing people have the same really helped