How to face sleep again

[quickblizzard]

Been getting anxiety and shakes in the middle of the night, causing me to wake up frequently and get maybe 1-3 hours of sleep, all broken up. Some nights I get a little more, but now I'm having trouble falling asleep because I'm anticipating the midnight anxiety. I hate getting out of my bed because my bed used to be my refuge, but now it doesn't feel so safe anymore. Any tips on how to look at it differently? I don't want to be afraid of my bed.

[Hb2003]

Have you tried honey for sleeping like putting a spoonful of honey in tea it will help you 🙏 also lavender tea can help . Why are you afraid if you don’t mind me asking ? . Something happened to me long time ago and yet i leave a light on in my room because I get so scared

[quickblizzard in reply to Hb2003]

I was hurt as a child and I'm scared of reliving that feeling of being so hurt and scared and having no one come to comfort me.

[Hidden in reply to quickblizzard]

Im really sorry for what happened to you. It makes alot of sense why you can struggle to sleep if you were hurt as a child. Im really sorry and my heart gos out to you.

I relate to you very much. I have got very anxious at bed time and struggle to sleep due to childhood traumas. I find listening to soft relaxing instrumental music very helpful. Or I listen to gentle soothing music with very calming lyrics. Ive left this music on all night if need be quietly playing soft enough so I can sleep if I am able and loud enough so I can just hear it.

Also, I know we all have different beliefs so I understand if you're not comfortable with this next suggestion but in all honesty what has helps me alot is praying while I try sleep. I find it comforting to share my concerns and painful feelings with the creator and source of all life. Sometimes I have been crying in to my pillow but a combination of calming music and prayer has slowly calmed me down over time or Ive at least felt comforted.

[quickblizzard in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply. I struggle to pray a lot, but I do believe in God, and hope that one day, He'll answer me. I've tried calming music during the day, but maybe I should try it at night.

[Hb2003 in reply to quickblizzard]

I’m so sorry about that lots of hugs and support

[jackiesj]

Heres a couple thoughts.Sleep is sooo individual.sometimes moving straight to mattress straight to floor.When you enter the room what is the most pleasant place to place the mattress...i have to have it direct facing to door side window(safety thoughts)Yahoo Fung Sway....lack of potassium can keep you up and jittery. Magnesium and calcium are relaxants but can make you go potty!sleep apnea 1# of waking up in panic.NOT breathing.air filter humidifyer....gotta have it...last but not least...i put on you tube thunder storms and set the timer.they have fireplaces, snow storms, bedtime stories etc.Best wishes...you see by the research i have the issue.

[quickblizzard in reply to jackiesj]

Thank you for this. I haven't tried thunder, but the sound has always relaxed me. Gonna give it a try.

[Agora1]

We need that one place to call our own. Our refuge from the day's events as well as pasttraumas. We must leave all negative thoughts behind especially the thought of anticipatory anxiety regarding waking up after a few hours sleep.

Once we do that, the thought becomes true because it was programmed into our subconscious mind.

Practicing nightly Meditation and Breathing will allow both your Mind and Body to relax

as the mind absorbs the positive thoughts you will listen to. Make YouTube your nightly

friend. Find a Calming Sleep video and listen to it with headphones/earbuds on.

Make sure there are no disruptions in the room. Cool darken room will allow you to

relax better. When you first get into bed, feel each and every part of your body sink

into the mattress, your safe haven. Take a deep breathe and exhale long and slow, allowing

all the stress stored in your mind and body to be released.

Eventually, you will look forward to this little ritual of Calm each and every night again.

Breathe and you will go into a REM quality of restorative sleep. xx

[quickblizzard in reply to Agora1]

Thank you. I just started with meditation, and while I'm still adjusting, it is helping me to relax, and it feels like things in my mind are starting to shift, even if I don't understand it all yet. Blessings to you

[Zimarra]

I had this problem for months- it was awful. I’m still having morning anxiety from it now too. I had panic attacks for three weeks every night in bed and it destroyed me. I literally got afraid of sleep and my bed. Then I went months with the fear, spent hours pacing (11pm to like 4am) and eventually crashed at like 4am to 7 or 8 and got up. I was put on sleep meds but they didn’t really work. It wasn’t until months later that I tried hypnosis and that helped me release that fear. I’m still working on the rest though. So long comment , try looking up hypnosis for sleep . It may save you the months of trouble I have had.

[quickblizzard in reply to Zimarra]

Thank you so much for this. I was about to start sleep meds too. Big hugs. Hope you're doing better

[Zimarra in reply to quickblizzard]

I am still on the sleep meds (trazadone low dose-100) but pretty much what saved me was hypnosis and I wish I had done it a lot sooner -I might not have needed to get on this and now I’m dreading getting off this. I was desperate so this is the cost I’m paying but if you can hypnotize yourself to be calm etc now then it’s wkrth it

[quickblizzard in reply to Zimarra]

Thanks so much. Is there a hypnotherapy you recommend?

[Zimarra in reply to quickblizzard]

Ah yes. Look up Michael Sealy sleep

[quickblizzard in reply to Zimarra]

Thank you 😊

[Balthazar]

Hello...some brief suggestions as I have sleep problems too. I take valerian and then later melatonin. Do check with a doctor or pharmacist to see if this is best for you...try meditation and or prayer...this is helpful for me.Richard Rohr from New Mexico I believe is a great author . Eg. he wrote Breathing Under Water..based on the Twelve Steps ( folks with alcohol or other addictions).

Get sleep whenever you can.....exercise even if it is walking as it promotes sleep. ...write a brief journal whereby you have “three chairs set up”- you, OCD and your favourite person that might advise you ( mine is Francis of Assisi). Write an imaginary dialogue amongst the three of you. It helps me clarify how my thoughts are exaggerated sometimes but more importantly, it reassures me. It does not have to be long. God is present to me in prayer but not always of course.

Try not to worry about he sleep- I know this is difficult...focus on the present not the future. E. Tolle.

Some doctor offices have a therapist but they may not know OCD specifically. Many universities have an Anxiety Clinic...especially with the internet. .. I belong to an OCD group in Toronto , Ontario ( support group through internet). I am speaking at the next meeting this month about my OCD journey.

God bless.

[quickblizzard in reply to Balthazar]

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried valerian and didn't get much help, though it did calm down my anxiety somewhat. I've never heard of that writing exercise. I'll give that a try.

[Balthazar]

You are welcome quickblizzard. I take 5 ml of valerian before sleep...wait an hour and then take melatonin...allowed to take another 5 ml of valerian if wake up during night...this was approved by my doctor and pharmacist.....an insightful doctor suggested the writing exercise....All the best!.....epsom salts in a warm bath sometimes calms the body too....others have mentioned meditations.

[panamaborn]

quickblizzard I feel the same way about my bed and room I don't want to leave my room and don't want to get out of bed

[quickblizzard in reply to panamaborn]

Hi panamaborn, my bed used to be my refuge, but now I'm getting scared of it. I don't know how to change back. Just got a new mattress coming, so maybe that'll help a little bit. Thanks for writing.

[Walnutbutterfly]

Hi quickblizzard. My bed is my refuge too. Have you ever heard of "binaural beats"? I don't know a lot about the technical stuff but it's kinda spacy wooshy sounds that have helped take my mind off of stuff at night.

[quickblizzard in reply to Walnutbutterfly]

Hi Walnutbutterfly, thanks for the reply. I've tried them, but I find them more relaxing than sleep inducing. But at least I'm a little less jangly when I use them.

[panamaborn]

quickblizzard I hope you are well just wanted to know how are you doing with sleeping?

[quickblizzard in reply to panamaborn]

Hi, panamaborn, doing a little better. Got some more sleep last night. It looks like my thyroid is acting up, so that may be why I'm struggling so much. How are you?

[panamaborn in reply to quickblizzard]

Hello quickblizzard sorry to hear about your thyroid acting up, I am doing ok woke up again at 3am was thinking about trying to go back to sleep but I just got up and got prepared for work ugh! I hope you feel better and thank you for sharing.

[quickblizzard in reply to panamaborn]

I'm sorry you had a rough night. Wishing you a good night tonight

[panamaborn in reply to quickblizzard]

thank you I hope you feel better as well three more days until the weekend lol whatever that means. Feel better