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Insomnia and anxiety

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 4027

I'm struggling with my medical providers trying to figure out what's best for me in terms of equipment. I feel I'm in a bad sci-fi experiment but I see an end to this, with sleep apnea Weight loss, sleeping on your side are important, but being in the throes of the panic cycle is taking away my focus, since I can't get restorative sleep.

Summer is hard anyway, since we live in an old home, and even with central air, there are challenges.

I started a sleep journal, just to pin down the issues.

Good luck on your masters JD.

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 66

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the tips and strategies. I ended up sleeping pretty well the last 2 nights with no meds. I know that i'm more powerful than any drug. Case in point - i tried to not drink coffee yesterday and I didn't all day and this morning I felt so out-of-it, anxious thoughts looming, etc, not excited for the day at all... and then I told myself I could have one cup and no more after 12 noon, and see if that's okay for my sleep patterns. I had only taken 2 sips and I already felt better, and theres no way caffeine was in my system. Sooooo psychological....! I was shocked by my reaction.

It's funny, now that I have decided to go to Toronto to do my masters for a year, I'm already worrying about what I'll do after my masters. I don't think I'm coping that well at work having to take 3 days off in the last 3-4 weeks because of no sleep. So I keep thinking, great if I do my masters, but I'll just come back to this job that I'm kinda bored of yet can't take on more interesting responsibility because I can't really cope/handle it.

Okay negative part of my mind... shut up!

Enjoy the weekend everyone,

P.S. Ashley, I'm excited about exploring a new city and I'm also excited to learn new things and get into interesting discussions with my fellow masters students :)

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 252

Davit,

Sounds like a adventure thats for sure..Have a safe and nice trip to see your sweetie today...Are you picking her up and taking her to your place this time and is she bringing her beloved dog Sunny with her? Just wondering I guess I am being a little nosy....You don't have to answer if you don't want to...

Thanks for the complement on my tomatoes...They did come out nicely this year...The zucchini was a wash this time, but the butternut squash is thriving...and my partner is experimenting with potatoes grown from the eyes of potatoes from our pantry..not sure how they will turn out yet...Life is a adventure that's for sure...

Have fun,

Red.....

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

I some times have trouble getting quality sleep. Three hours of proper quality sleep (rem) is worth more than a whole night of intermittent. I try not to sleep during the day but when I'm stumbling around and can't pry my feet off the floor then I find it acceptable to nap. Anxiety is my major cause. This morning I have a two hour drive to meet My sweetie in Jasper. It is stupid but what kept me awake is that she has no cell phone so we have no contact in case anything goes wrong. And I'm not sure she remembers mine. Just useless worry but it did effect my sleep. I did tell myself that I have no control over that and to go to sleep, but you know how it is with Agoraphobics.

Red, love the Tomato. Lucky you, mine are just starting to turn and they are in the green house.

If it rains here any more I will need a boat to get around. Lucky my Garden slopes and is not built on clay.

Davit.

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 252

Justducky,

Like Ashley said lots of people with anxiety seem to have trouble sleeping..I take some Valium to help me sleep or more like stay asleep, when it gets bad with the anxiety and nightmares that wake me up during the night...This works for me and I got 5 1/2 hours of restful sleep last night....For me its all about the quality of my sleep and not the quantity at this point..That being said I still would love to get 7 or 8 hours sleep every night...It happens once in a great while and I really feel good on those morning....I am thinking a peaceful and positive distraction in the evening might really help..No listening to, reading or watching the news or all the other negative or bad stuff on the tv, radio or online at night might be a good idea also..I am speaking for myself here and what might work for me...I am not sure if this will work for anyone else here, but I am going to give it a try and see what happens....

Just thinking out loud,

Red......

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 4027

JD,

If you're sure about the diagnosis, knock yourself out.

I found out my sleep problem was minimal, but I had to be involved in something called Cpap, with the maintenance and possible orthodontic device costing 1800 dollars....I knew another guy who had operation and spent 3 days in ICU...buyer beware...I have to snort some meds up my crooked nose(it's getting more out of joint with time) for this Cpap thing so I can benefit, and I wonder if my nostrils will have any of those precious follicles connected to "smelling the roses" after 90 days...meds are powerful

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11215

Hi Justducky,

Insomnia seems to be a common problem with individuals who have anxiety. Members are always discussing it in the forums. Try searching through the forums for other discussions on this topic. Also remember, that sticking with the program and managing your anxiety overall will help with sleeping. The auxiliary session on relaxation techniques can be helpful to throughout the day and before bed.

Good for you for going for it and taking your Masters! That takes a lot of courage. What are you looking forward to about the Masters program?

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

justducky.

A large number of people use Clonazapam once a week or less when they get a no sleep night. During high stress periods I will use half a valium to sleep, especially if I get restless leg syndrome with no sleep. Now I was an Ativan addict so I would not touch anything or use it in any way that could be addictive. Safer than the amount of tylenol people consume.

Avoid 'Sleepy Time' and calcium together. It can cause restless leg syndrome.

Distractions don't have to be something you like they just have to be distractions. Might be even better if you don't like it. Like doing dishes.

Davit

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 4027

JD,

I'm trying to peel myself off the ceiling, and usually get relief from progressive relaxation. Using a sleep specialist, is going to help.

I want to try yoga, which really helped ground me, even though I'm inflexible. Remember that this processs has been practised for thousands of years, before the lulu cashin.

I look forward to yoga, but need to scale down my expectations, and ambition so I can pace myself.

Tai Chi or anything which will force your focus on something else, which you will need for grad study, is an option.

Elite athletes use this stuff too...

12 years ago 0 +0 / -0 66

Hi everyone. So last week was pretty good, managed to sleep okay. Insomnia hit me last night. I only got about 3 to 4 hours of sleep and didn't go to work today. I went to the gym and swam alot and sat in the steam room. After I went to my GP who advised me to kick the caffeine (I usually only drink 1 cup in the morning), and she wrote me a prescription for sleeping pills. I went and bought some herbal sleep products and melatonin. I'm going to try this natural things before the sleeping pills. My psychatrist gave me clonazepam but I don't want to get hooked on something else. My anxiety has increased because I'm moving to Toronto in September to do my masters. I went back and forth on this decision for awhile which was driving me nuts, so I decided I'm just going to do it. What's the worst that can happen? I can't manage my anxiety, freak out, and come home?? If I don't do it this year, I lose a big scholarship.

Lots of people are telling me to distract myself with things I like to do, but I never really know if I like doing something or not. I feel either hypoaroused or hypervigilant, and I am always aware of my surroundings and everybody's moods. I think they call it being a "hypersensitive person". I find on my days off of work, I have to constantly find things to do all through the day because I never get absorbed in any activites or maybe my attention span just sucks?

Any suggestions?

just ducky

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