I’m really struggling and could do with some perspective from people who’ve been through this.
I have severe sleep anxiety – worrying about sleep to the point it stops me sleeping, then panicking the next day if I’ve had a bad night. This is the fourth time I’ve been through it. The previous three times it eventually resolved with fluoxetine and time, and I went back to sleeping normally.
This time feels different and I’m scared I’m stuck. I’m 8 weeks into fluoxetine (first 6 weeks on 20mg, now 30mg for 2 weeks) and I’m still very anxious, constantly monitoring my sleep and worrying about not sleeping, which of course makes it worse. I’m also seeing a sleep therapist.
When I don’t sleep well I panic badly and keep phoning in sick to work because I feel like I can’t cope. I can’t look forward to things anymore because everything feels dependent on whether I’ll sleep. I’ve even started worrying about an upcoming holiday and whether I’ll ruin it by not sleeping.
Logically I know I’ve had this before and it has passed, but emotionally I feel terrified that this time it won’t, especially as I’m still so anxious at 8 weeks on medication.
Has anyone had sleep anxiety this bad and come out the other side? Did it still lift even when you felt completely stuck and obsessed with sleep? Did medication take longer to work for you one time compared to others?
Please be honest – I just need to know this isn’t permanent.