Every time I try to sleep I get panicky

[Messupmum]

I feel like I'm in a different place from everyone else right now, and I'm scared. I am thinking and doing harmful things, but feel I've lost control and sunk into this place again, when I can barely function.

My minds racing but of thoughts that make no sense. I don't even feel I can get through tonight alone, but I have no choice.

Hello, sorry to not have any words of wisdom but did not want to read and run.What harmful things have you done? Maybe ring the Samaritans if you feel like you can't cope tonight.

Nothing bad, just stuff to try to get through the past few days. I just want to sleep to block everything out, but I can't. I'm tired and my mind won't give me a break!

It sounds from your post as though you have been in this place before, what help did you get? were you given any coping techniques that you could try and implement tonight?. Phone a friend to come and sit with you.

Could you read a book to try and distract your brain or recite the alphabet backwards. I hope someone with more knowledge comes across thid thread soon, sorry I am of no use.

I get like this too often, struggle most days, or I think I'm struggling, then when I sink this low, I realise I was coping better than I thought. I've used distraction, Samaritans etc to get through the last two weeks, feel it's just too much now. I've reached the end of my tether. I can't think straight.

You can continue to use Samaritans.

I had major issues with sleep a few years ago. The things I found helped were:

• firstly not stressing about lack of sleep, a big change in thought needed for this. But to simply say, ok I am struggling to sleep but I will manage ok on less sleep and as I cannot sleep what can I do until I manage it to reduce stress
• I had junky magazines and sudoku puzzle books by my bed, to fill my brain and use the time, or simple word searches or other things. Or colouring even, a nice pattern book.
• never, ever sleep in the day as it makes good sleep at night harder, so however tired in day never lie down

To deal with racing thoughts I used-

• relaxing classical music on low
• dim lights in bedroom
• read, mag's and puzzles etc to occupy the brain

Mindfulness is meant to be good but I have never done a course, but there are books around that explain it simply. The courses have hwk exercises such as " noticing thoughts and putting them on a leaf that floats away on a stream" which sounds useful.

If you are harming or feel dangerous can you tell your usual mental health worker or dr so they are aware. May need to look at medication etc to help?

Im sorry your suffering and scared, fear in itself will result in flight or fright response, im sure your aware of the physiology of this, have you been taught breathing techniques, meditation to counteract the effects.
What about writing it down, drawing, when im really wirery I get a hot bath to soothe my aching muscles.
Its really exhausting struggling, did you get the crisis team support you was going to request your cpn do?
My main advise is if you really cant keep yourself safe tonight then go to your nearest A+E and request to see the mental health team or oncall psych, its a ordeal in itself but not as enduring as struggling and hurting yourself were itcould end tragically.