I too have suffered from the sleepless nights. I have found that eventually you will sleep, worrying about it when it happens never has done me any good. When I am having this problem I have resorted to taking calcium/magnesium supplement. The calcium must be 2-1 ratio to magnesium (like 1000mg calcium/500 mg magnesium). Taken together they relax the body and mind for most people and I have found it works great for me. Within an hour I am drowsy and fall asleep. It also stops my heart palps (those irregular beats that anxiety throws at you). Then I will do some breath cycles http://www.drweil.com/u/Article/M116/ And if all else fails I will put in a relaxation cd/tape and listen to that. Some nights nothing seems to work. I suggest you read "Hope and Help For Your Nerves" by Claire Weekes It has helped me immensly understand all the tricks the anxiety/panic play on me.

Hey Gina- i know what you are feeling- i too can't sleep for fear of not waking up- it's terrible!! how long can our bodies go on without sleep?? then, when i don't get enough sleep, my panic attacks and anxiety are intensified by 100xx-i have tried just about everything- anyone have any suggestions?? I'm up for anything!!

Hi hh, Welcome to the site. This site is full of information and support on panic and anxiety. It is a great place to share your own experiences of this disorder. Regarding your current coping mechanism, please be sure to let your doctor know. Please feel free to roam the site at your own pace. If you look to the left of the screen under "TOOLS" you will find many supportive tests. These tests are not diagnostic tools and are not a replacement or substitute for a physicians advice. The purpose of these tests is to prepare you with information that you can present to your physician. When youre finished the test, you can either print your Final Report or email it directly to your doctor. We also have developed a Panic Program. This program is 12-weeks and involves the tools mentioned above. Each session is based on the previous session, so we strongly advise that you work slowly through the program and not jump ahead. If you have any questions or concerns with our "TOOLS" you can contact our support department at support@paniccenter.net. Looking forward to hearing from you soon! Casey _____________________________ The Panic Center Support Team

hi everyone, i just joined today and i after reading a lot of the posted messages i realize that i have had just about every symptom described... i really believe that i have had anxiety since i was born...i've always been high strung and have suffered from anxiety in all different forms both general anxiety and panic attacks that are so severe that i'm pretty sure something catastrophic is going to happen...i'm going to die or close up and stop breathing... i have many night where i feel an attack coming on...i tried the deep breathing to stop it in it's tracks...doesnt work!! then when i feel it escalating i will take my medication (alprazolam specifically) and when its just not kicking in fast enough i will actually feel the need to grab my keys and run out to the car to take a drive (anything to distract me from what i feel will be completely terrifying)... i've tried everything...therapy, relaxation techniques, medication (which isnt as effective anymore)...the only thing that works to get me out of this feeling of severe panic is to (hope i dont get kicked out for this, but it works!!) is to take a quick shot of hard alcohol (my preference is whiskey)... within seconds it will completely relieve me of all symptoms of anxiety and i am back to doing what i was doing before the panic hit me... i have had panic attacks all of my life and when i was younger i could get out of them using my mind, but after having a lot of stress added to my life i no longer can control them...they go away for awhile and then depending on whats going on in my life they will come back full force and when they come back they are so much worse then before...my panic has become so bad that i cant drive down roads where there is nothing around for about 15 minutes...i am terrified of life and living and being somewhere without my medication and being stuck in bad traffic...i cant get on elevators, especially by myself...and i have had just about every symptom every time panic invades my life its something new...a new sensation that i have to eventually realize probably won't kill me... it does help to have at least one person that is supportive and they dont necessarily have to understand panic, but at least realize how terrifying it is to me...i have to so much more to

Try some Valerian root it may help. It may help you sleep.

Hey there. Right here with you. Sitting up staring at this computer monitor afraid to sleep. I hate nights like this.

Hi gina, Other members will be responding to your post soon, but I just wanted to reassure you that you are not alone in expereincing this feeling about sleep. This is a common symptom with anxiety. Using coping mechanisms to aid relaxation can help. Try a warm drink (caffeine-free) before bed, or a warm shower or bath, or even simple deep breathing exercises while you are in bed. Casey _____________________________ The Panic Center Support Team

i cant sleep. sometimes i am scared to go to sleep cause i think i might die in my sleep.any one else with this problem?i am not panicing right now i dont think i am just scared. i feel scared to to tell my husband cause then he will think i am crazy.i hate living like this.gina