Why can't I sleep?

[lambertcole61]

I m have so much anxiety that I sleep just 2 hours in 24 hours.

[Dolphin14]

Welcome

What's keeping you up? Is it anxiety?

🐬

[Onedge]

I’ve been there for 5 years without sleep. Medications such as sleeping tablets, night nurse, magnesium and a melatonin didn’t work for me at all. 15 years of social anxiety with panic attacks that are still strong but I’m trying to manage attacks with various techniques now. I still can’t believe that the body can still keeping going without sleep. I think it was the ‘fight and flight’ response that just stayed on. Couldn’t understand it. Specialists couldn’t understand that I only had 1 hour in 24 hours. Couldn’t get off to sleep couldn’t stay in bed after 1 hour. It was a nightmare time. Also, found that I developed nocturia. Going every hour. I was so agitated with jumping on the spot, hyperventilating and belching, restless legs, spasms, cramps, collapsing and having panic attacks during the night. etc. My anxiety went through the roof. However, good news is that I’m slightly better now. It takes determination and it’s v slow progress but this is what I did. Also, it’s trial and error and realising we are all different and lead different lives but these things have helped me. First step get a good doctor and have blood tests. Mine revealed hypothyroid, iron and vitb12 , vit d and folate deficiencies. Many people find that they can’t make or absorb vitamins, hormones too and when you can’t you feel dreadful. It does take years to feel better but any improvement is so welcomed after years of being in high anxiety. A doctor to guide you, encourage and monitor you is number one priority so please do this before anything. Once I found that my body was calming down (after 4 years) and I started getting some more sleep, just recently, I started to meditate as my last Hope as I had tried everything without success. Buddhist meditation with guided teacher. My very busy, worried mind, worse at night has been calming down with this help. I’ve been doing this every day for a year now and it really does work for me if you are determined to try and committed to keep at it. I do have a lot of medical conditions and I find every day is very hard and my anxiety still causes me great problems but meditation gives you a focus. I thoroughly know what you are going through and I wish you all the best. There are many free podcasts online to help and I also listen to Headspace. Unfortunately, an app you pay for, but it’s very good. Good luck