Anxiety and sleep

[Pistol Star 18]

Hi everyone,

It is my first post in quite a while. So, i'm glad to be back and hopefully can I can contribute. I had my up and down with anxiety in the last years but personal difficulties and all the about covid pandemic considerably raise my anxiety. One of my major difficulty is trouble sleeping. I do sleep, but I wake up a lot and it is not refreshing. Sleep Always have been my 'weekness', or fragility. 

What puzzle me, is when I compare the effect of a lack of sleep on me and someone who dont have a problem of anxiety. For instance, if I have a realy bad night. The next day, I feel tired but also wired at the same time. I am in hyperarousal. I wont fall asleep for a nap or quicker the next night. On the other side, people I know who are less anxious, if they dont sleep well, they wont be nervous or agitated. On the contrary, they will nap when they want and probably sleep well the next night. I'm wondering what causes the difference?

I'm planning to practice the relaxation response of Dr.Benson. I dont think that intelectualizing too much the problem will help. But rather doing something concrete about it. 

Thank you. It's good to be here. 

 

[MARC 428]

I take Melatonin every night to help me sleep and it has really been a big help to me. 

[Pistol Star 18]

Thanks for your answer Marc.

[vishalghatul1 0]

when i had problem in sleeping four months ago doctor prescribed me restyl.  i toom it once in four or five days .

then i started doing yoga which helped me. yoga helps calm ur mind and increases activeness. it is also helpful in depression.

[vishalghatul1 0]

there are many online therapies for depression. some exercises are good too. but the best therapy is called expressive therapy for depression.

please click the link below to visit the site.

expressive therapy for depression.

[jonathan123 2366]

Although this is obviously an advert, having looked at it it does have many good suggestions. Carl Jung, that great 20th century psychologist, used art as a means of allowing his patients to express themselves. Any form of artistic approach can help, although I very much doubt if depression can be 'cured' by such means. But of course, anything that eases the symptoms is helpful. Depression so often follows a long spell  anxiety. We become bewildered and frightened, and that in itself can cause depression.  Dorothy Rowe, who wrote many books on depression, said that it was like being in a prison but with the door open. We could go out into the world at any time, so why don't we? In prison it's safe. The old warder brings our food and water and looks after us. Why go out into the world with all it's pain and misery and responsibilities. But being in prison is not living.

There is so much we may not like outside, but it's where things happen and so often good things.  If we don't venture out we a will never know.  ACCEPTANCE is still the key to our problems. Difficult? Oh yes, but then what is easy in anxiety? This is one of those helpful adverts, but I am still not in favour of advertising on the site. 

[Doug97 19]

I've had trouble sleeping for years, I've come to realise that I can still do everything and have a normal day even if I slept badly the night before. That realisation stops me worrying when I wake up at night and ironically helps me get back to sleep. Not caring about insomnia is the key. 

[cooljets 0]

I rarely sleep more than 3-4 hours a night. I have ptsd, and constant worry with anxiety.  I have tried many many medications (with hospitalization ), sleep psychiatry , counselling, natural supplements, good sleep routines, and sleepy time tea. Any more suggestions would be kindly appreciated . 

[Ironman 153]

3 hours ago, cooljets said:

I rarely sleep more than 3-4 hours a night. I have ptsd, and constant worry with anxiety.  I have tried many many medications (with hospitalization ), sleep psychiatry , counselling, natural supplements, good sleep routines, and sleepy time tea. Any more suggestions would be kindly appreciated . 

I was there at one point - I was on Geodon 20mg just to put me to sleep.  That lasted a couple of months; it eventually was too much and I didn't need it anymore.  I stuck with melatonin or perhaps an over-the-counter sleep aid.

[cooljets 0]

Thank you I’ll look into Geodon. 😊