Advice please !!! Issues with sleep.

[DistressedPoe]

Okay so. For the past....5 weeks or so ? I've been up all night and sleep during the day. Because of my anxiety. I'd get afraid at night and wouldn't sleep. At first it was by 7am and I'd wake up at 3pm.

But then slowly it extended to 12pm and wake up at 6pm. And then...it went to [2pm wake up at 6pm and sleep again at 2am until 4am. Very broken sleep. I'd wake up in between]

And finally...when my anxiety started to subside, I could sleep straight 8 hours from 12pm to 8pm (yesterday). But when I woke up, I felt drowsy again by 11pm. Literally 3 hours later ! But obviously. I'm an idiot. I decided to drink coffee and didn't sleep bcs "I just woke up I'm not sleeping again".

I felt okay for a while then drowsy again by morning and had a headache. Now it's 9am and im VERY tired, a bit dizzy, a lil queasy and I feel kind of shaky. Usually I don't mind this feeling because I'd be studying and actually be tired. But like...I slept. So why am I tired ? And I can't sleep now cause I'm worried over what's wrong with me. My anxiety levels are low now...why am I suddenly so tired ? I wasn't fatigued before...

P.S. many times in these past weeks I've been awake for more than 24 hours because of anxiety.

[a_work_in_progress]

I think when you mess up your body clock by sleeping all these weird hours it’s hard to get back on track. I recently have been taking A sleeping aid like NyQuil or Advil p.m. because I know how important it is to get a good nights rest. I do not do good at all when I am up all hours of the night into the next day.

[Hollick in reply to a_work_in_progress]

I can relate to your comment...when I don't sleep well, anxiety can really spike the next day, its a vicious circle..try not to take anything if I don't have to, eventually after several sleepless nights, you give in cause your exhausted and know you need to sleep, at least for one night,

[Ddpg94]

Hello! I can imagine how hard it is and for me not being able to sleep at night would worsen my anxiety! I started to try sleeping aids first it was melatonin but it would give me headaches so I switched to ZZZquil and wow you need to try it! This stuffs works fast and its really helpful just dont take it for long I use it when I need it and it sounds like you do so take it while you fix your sleeping routine. Hope this helps and also I take an antidepressant and I was told there is no interaction but if you are taking something ask your doctor first!

[happiness__]

I recommend trying to get your circadian rhythm back on track. A healthy sleep routine will help with anxiety even though anxiety prevents you from sleeping, ironically. My anxiety prevented me from sleeping until 4 am every morning because I was so paranoid at night that I would rather stay up and lose sleep than sleep and something terrible happen. My doctor prescribed me sertraline, and thankfully my anxiety is more subdued and my irrational fears have really decreased and I sleep better now. I would suggest seeking medical advice as well as setting a routine for yourself every night. Maybe take some melatonin, get essential oils and download an app with calming sounds.

[Jonesie123]

Hi, its worth bearing in mind that if you are trying to reset your body clock, it's only possible to do it by 1 hour a day naturally, so it can be a lengthy process and the best way to do a reset is with as much sunlight as possible, which is tough to do if you've shifted out a lot. If you do try to get back to normal, take it over small steps and try not to fret over it. I feel your pain, I work nights 5 days a week and try to be normal for the other 2 - impossible!

[DistressedPoe in reply to Jonesie123]

Yeah...I just. Sigh. It's tough. Like...I stay awake at night as a coping mechanism for my anxiety that comes and goes. So....for now...the current anxiety issue has gone down considerably so I've stopped feeling antsy and afraid at night.

But at the same time, it's hard to sleep at night and I feel scared in case my anxiety gets bad again. But I also don't wanna constantly feel tired and sleep so damn late. I'm fine sleeping from 6am to 12-1pm but...I SLEEP at 1pm now and I just. I don't like it. My sleep is getting worse and I'm worried it'll worsen my anxiety.

I'm never good at sleeping on time. It's a very bad habit because I've always had anxiety and nighttime felt comforting + as a student, I'm sometimes awake studying but I have to wake up for college so automatically the next day I'd sleep early.

During holidays I relax and stay awake watching movies. But i always am able to fix it by the end of the month because college would be starting again.

I've been on holiday for 4 months now and I have 5 more before university begins and I feel like this is a lost cause bcs holidays make me uncomfortable and anxious, so does living at my parents' home ever since they moved to a new country (I don't like it here and I have no friends my age around) and just depressed in general over the lack of ACTUAL work and interaction with ppl my age. So staying awake at night helps but I'm also feeling worse and worse bcs I think it's taking a toll on my body.

[Jonesie123 in reply to DistressedPoe]

A sleep pattern that sees you sleeping, even at odd times isn't so bad as long as your getting the sleep and nutrients you need so I understand. Fighting it will and this can't help your anxiety either. Naturally our body clock drifts out...it's not 24 hours, so that's a sneaky trick he played on us to start with.

What country did you move to?

[DistressedPoe in reply to Jonesie123]

I'm from Malaysia. Parents moved to Brunei for work. So I'm here for a few months before I'm back in Malaysia for my university.

I'm just trying to stay awake until evening at least. So that I can sleep for at least most of the night. And still be awake for a bit. Win-win.

I'm scared my anxiety is gonna come back. Usually I have college to get my mind off and KEEP IT OFF. But now I don't. This is really hard and I'm scared. I felt terrible few weeks back. I don't want to go through it again.

[Jonesie123 in reply to DistressedPoe]

Malaysia. Good memories of there.

Could be worse...You could be cooking for 12 at midday with me and tripping over 6 kids. When they decide to leave then I can skip off to work. Sleep might come in about 26 hours time here.

[DistressedPoe in reply to Jonesie123]

Damnnn bro. Sounds tough. But see...at least you have work.

I don't have anything here. My brothers aren't free. Not too close with Mom and Dad and they're working. No friends here. No place to go bcs it's a small town. Everything feels lonely.

I'm just at home all day. In my room.. it's a terrible feeling.

Although...I do hope you're feeling well

Also, where about in Malaysia did you stayyyy ? Could u tell me about it ? I feel homesick. Mentioning home always makes me feel happy and secure.

[Jonesie123 in reply to DistressedPoe]

Stayed in Brunei..was the sultans birthday week so lots of celebrations going on. Was in Bandar. Went over to Sepilok of course and stayed on an island called Sipidan before staying on there was prohibited. Had some time in KK and really liked it there too.

[DistressedPoe in reply to Jonesie123]

Ahhh I see...so you didn't hang around in the peninsular side. AHAHAHAHAH.

I'm glad you liked in KK

I'm from Kuala Lumpur so I really do miss home now that I'm in Brunei sigh. It's hard to get adjusted here lol

[Hidden]

Thats my story too. Its 4:30am and I’m still awake 🙃

[DistressedPoe in reply to Hidden]

Ahahaha whelp. If it make u feel any better, it's 12.30pm here. Guess who's awake lol 😂😂

[Jonesie123 in reply to Hidden]

You'll be a UK insomniac then! This is the worst bit...when black goes to grey and those birds start up!

[DistressedPoe in reply to Jonesie123]

I didn't understand a word of that 😂😂😂😂 but I'm guessing it's bad.

It's ok. I'm trynna sleep a bit late. So I can at least sleep for most of the night.