Tip to manage nighttime anxiety and sleep difficulties

[Sleepy21]

I have asked a few q’s last few days here re anxiety and I find everyone so helpful which is very therapeutic when you’re struggling! I wanted to ask how fellow anxiety sufferers cope with nighttime anxiety and sleep? My anxiety spikes when it’s bedtime as I worry I wont sleep and it becomes a vicious circle! There’s something about nighttime that makes it spike for me. The last few weeks before this, I kept waking early with racing heart and anxiety. Having a bad anxiety spike these last few days so trying to manage it the best I can as the last one went out of control and I don’t want to go back there. Appreciate any reply’s and tips x

Have you tried listening to audiobooks? I use the sleep mask headphones and set the timer, choose something you know relaxes you and it might help you drift off and get out of the loop of worrying about not sleeping.

A guided meditation might help as well, Jeff Warren is great on the Calm app, he’s also on YouTube.

Yes, I find having something to listen to distracts me and stops the anxiety building. I have an old smart phone with audiobooks, podcasts and bbc sounds, I'm nearly always asleep before the end of the archers!

Have you tried the podcasts 'Nothing Much Happens'?. They're designed to occupy your mind enough to stop it thinking about other things, but not enough to keep you awake. Kathryn Nicolai has the most soothing voice and makes you feel everything is fine.

Definitely worth a try, give it a few weeks.