Sleep!!!

[Shinyshiny2]

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.

Sorry never experienced this but what type of night routine do you have?
Don't know if it would feed into the anxiety and be counter productive but magnesium tablets and magnesium foot cream, melatonin etc
Sleeping pill as a back up from GP
Perhaps explore hypnotherapy?
Or try a different medication. Look up Pure O or OCD and see if anything rings true

You could CBT yourself
Write on paper thoughts e.g. will ruin holiday if I don't sleep -> why? Realistically? -> bc I'll be too tired to do activities, stressed and lose appetite. Might feel unwell -> ok what could we do then? Realistically? -> use the holiday daytime to rest and relax like people do on a fly and flop holiday. Swim. Eat well. Go to pharmacy if I need to. Pack my emergency sleeping tablets if I can (look up airline etc) and take a drowsy antihistamine if I can't. Go for a massage or sauna etc. -> I'll do all that and it still won't work?!!! -> OK then we try other things or take our medication or we accept it and push thru. We aren't going to die of no sleep. We can just be tired and chic and cancel activities to prioritise downtime. In the worst case scenario we go home early. But realistically most insomniacs sleep better in a new bed/new setting

Etc
It's great you're seeing a sleep therapist but it may be time for the GP or to explore other options xxx

Have you tried a Snoozeband? Think Amazon do their own version. Lots of sleep playlists on BBC Sounds etc or make your own playlists.
I find my Snoozeband helps and I also use sleep patches from the Wonderpatch.
Is your job at risk from keep ringing in sick? I know you can’t help not sleeping but if you tell yourself you have to work so need sleep would that help or make it worse?
Hope you find something that helps soon.

Thank you. I have been to the doctors numerous times but as it’s a problem with my thoughts I was kind of left to it! I don’t want sleeping tablets as I’ve had them before and they add to the anxiety. I guess I’m looking for reassurance that this will pass and I won’t be worrying about not sleeping forever!!