Unable to sleep

[Garden144]

Hi, im new here. Over the last year my husband and I had been trying to conceived. We haven't had much luck and this is causing my anxiety to sky rocket. I haven't been taking any meds because most of them are dangerous during pregnancy, but this last week, i broke down and had to be taken to the doctor to control my anxiety. I am unable to sleep and sperience terrible anxiety symptoms right before bed which prevents me from sleeping. The last couple of days i been taking Lorezapan, but i know i cannot stay on it since we are trying to consive. Does anyone knows about am effective way to deal with my anxiety without pills? Or about a safer medication?

[BonnieSue]

I'm going to give you my long list of ways to deal with anxiety that don't require drugs. Please feel free to pick something from this list and give it a try. All of these suggestions have come from other people from this site who've recommended these things as helpful.

Some natural remedies and non-drug sources of information are books, videos, and workbooks suggested by other people on this site:

1---"I've found David D. Burns' "Feeling Good" and "When Panic Attacks" to be very helpful."

2---"I am working through the anxiety workbook by Dr David Carbonell and it has helped immensely!!! " His website is anxietycoach.com.

3---Mindfulness has helped many people and is now recommended by doctors in the UK. Here’s just 1 link that explains it’s usefulness: heartwoodrefuge.org/benefit.... Another option of many is called MINDSHIFT. You can download it to your phone from Google Playstore.

4---TRE (Trauma releasing exercises) is something you can learn in a class but you don't have to talk about your problems and once you have learned the technique you can use it at home.

5---"A good book that I came across recently is "The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook, 6th Edition" by Edmund J. Bourne, PhD. You might find this book to be of some help to you, although communicating your thoughts and feelings in a group setting is enormously helpful as well. "

6---“The book DARE, which is about anxiety. It’s a very good book about accepting anxiety and letting go of the fear. The author is Barry Mcdonagh and he also has a YouTube channel and a Facebook support group.”

7---For anxiety: Claire Weekes audio books on iTunes. “Self Held for Your Nerves” is one title that is good. You can see her on YouTube. “The Dr. Claire Weekes book is easy to understand and will help you on your way to recovery through acceptance.”

8---Another really good CD and book is the Linden method.

9---How to be good with yourself: self-compassion.org/the-thr...10---Try the meditation app called Headspace. It's done in 10 mins slots once a day.

10---Videos on YouTube by THAT ANXIETY GUY helps with anxiety re: depersonalization/ de-realization states.

11—For UK residents: Have you ever been in touch with the organisation called MIND? They offer one to one sessions with a Project Worker free. They also run courses that you can attend free of charge. One of the courses is about Anxiety. Their website is mind.org.uk

12---"Go on the Psychology Today site and look for a therapist that specializes in anxiety." Psychology Today has listings with psychiatrists and psychologists and therapists with their pictures and the therapists’ specialties and philosophies, sliding scale fees if they have them, education and insurance accepted and other details they choose to post for you.

13---Instead of mercilessly judging and criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self-compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings – after all, who ever said you were supposed to be perfect? self-compassion.org/the-thr...

14---“Have you ever listened to Louise Hay on YouTube? Some of the talks help motivate you and hopefully you will feel a positive energy.”

15---“I called one of these online therapist sites. The therapist was really good. It was prestoexperts dot com. Her name was Lori Burke. Definitely a professional and she got me through this awful depression/anxiety morning.” (There is a charge for this service)

16---For meditation look at:

Tara Brach and Chopra Center

17---theworrygames.com/anxiety-f...

18---“AnxietyNoMore” by Paul Bywater. A phone app.

19---“At Last a Life” book by Paul David.

20---The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook

Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance

By: Matthew McKay PhD, Jeffrey Wood PsyD, Jeffrey Brantley MD

A Clear and Effective Approach to Learning DBT Skills

First developed for treating borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has proven effective as treatment for a range of other mental health problems, especially for those characterized by overwhelming emotions. Research shows that DBT can improve your ability to handle distress without losing control and acting destructively. In order to make use of these techniques, you need to build skills in four key areas-distress tolerance, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Source: NewHarbingerPublications

Caution for non-Buddhists: Zen Buddhism inspired aspects of DBT, along with behavioral science and dialectical philosophy. Source: GoodTherapy.com.

[Garden144 in reply to BonnieSue]

Thank you. I will look them up

[AnxiousGirl87]

Night time is bad for me also. I think it's quiet and I'm still with nothing to distract me and it just clobbers me. I feel like I go through cycles though. I'll have weeks where I'm sleeping 12+ hours a night and just tired constantly it's always followed by a much longer period where I sleep maybe 3 hours and sometimes less a night and I'm just constantly wide awake. Meditation helps some. There are all kinds of guided meditation videos on Youtube if you want to look them up and try. When all else fails Benedryl is my go to. It relaxes me and helps with the anxiety and makes me sleepy so I can sleep. Hope you figure out something soon and I hope you get that positive test soon!

[Garden144 in reply to AnxiousGirl87]

Thank you. I also go through cycles. I use benadryl too but i think i am either used to it or way to anxious for ut to work. I tried to meditate, but I find it hard to clear my mind.

[Meggspeggs]

I go through those same cycles. I take 0.5mg Ativan at bed along with melatonin. Have you tried melatonin? Unisom works sometimes too.

[Garden144 in reply to Meggspeggs]

I had try melatonin. It helps sometimes. It depends of gow anxious i am feeling. I never heard og unison. What is it?

[Meggspeggs]

I've also heard that liquid magnesium can help. Unisom is safe during pregnancy. I'm so sorry you are feeling like this. I'm in a non sleeping cycle too.

[Garden144 in reply to Meggspeggs]

Thank you, i am sorry you are feeling like this too. Its a terrible place to be

[Meggspeggs]

Unisom is an over the counter sleeping aid. Do not get the gel caps, they are simply Benadryl. Get the tablets, they are doxyalamine which is another med that helps with sleep.

[Garden144 in reply to Meggspeggs]

Thank you. I will give it a try