Why do I feel this way? I can't sleep.

[AfraidofLife]

Every little pain in my body makes me worry about death. I've looked reasons for certain pains online and all of the reasons just seem to turn to death. Tonight is really bad though. I'm afraid to fall asleep because I think I'm going to die. I've dozed off a few times but I just wake myself up again. I can't stop yawning either, and I just let out a really big yawn and now my jaw hurts which is making me worry even more. The doctors says my heart and lungs sound fine but I can't help but to think that it's not fine, which makes me afraid to fall asleep. I'm only 17 and everyone says I'm a healthy young lady, but I just don't think I am... I'm tired and I want sleep but I don't want to die...

[Sunshine54321]

Hi, I know what you mean and when I look up my symptoms on the internet it makes me more worried so the worst you can do is look up your symptoms on the internet. If your doctor said you are healthy then trust them. God uses doctors and medicine to help heal. Meditate on God's protection over you. He wants you to live a full and joyful life. I'm praying for you to have peaceful and restful sleep.

[AfraidofLife in reply to Sunshine54321]

Thank you very much for the reply I try to keep god in my heart as often as I can, but sometimes the thoughts take over, the brain is a very powerful thing that can be hard to control.

But it's very comforting to know that I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I will try my best to get some sleep tonight. I am feeling a bit better than I was a couple hours ago.

[Sunshine54321 in reply to AfraidofLife]

Yes, just take it one day at a time. The mind is powerful but God is more powerful and He knows your needs. Be at peace and rest now. God bless you always.

[Cicinoodle]

you are depressed and focusing too much on yourself. then the anxiety kicks in and you feel you are doomed.

you are just fine. We have all been there. You should try volunteering at a nursing home or hospital to see how bad things can really be.

You are tired from all the bad thoughts and worries and your body needs exercise for oxygen, so you yawn more.

Trust me, things will get better, but it starts with your positive thoughts.

xo

[AfraidofLife in reply to Cicinoodle]

Thank you for responding I know that all this anxiety is just as in my head, but all the thoughts just seem so real sometimes. I'm slowly getting better, but tonight is just really bad.

I do like to try to get out in the fresh air more often to help, but I haven't been able too here lately because where I live, there's a lot of snow and it's quite cold.

But thanks again for replying, it's nice to know that there are people here who can help me.

[BonnieSue]

What you have is too much anxiety. It's causing you to worry about a problem you don't have. Trust the doctor's report. You are fine. What isn't fine is your anxiety level. Ask the doctor for something for your anxiety so you can get back to normal. Do you want some non-drug information about anxiety and things that have helped other people who also had too much anxiety on this site? I can give you a list of these things if you want it.

[AfraidofLife in reply to BonnieSue]

Thanks for responding and yes, it would be very nice to have some information about this topic, it would be a great help.

[BonnieSue in reply to AfraidofLife]

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!!! "

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."

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 e

Source: NewHarbingerPublications

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

[marsbarr in reply to BonnieSue]

Great info

[Cicinoodle]

Please beware of medications. It's best to get to the root of your trouble. What is making you so anxious and try exercise and diet first, along with counseling if needed.

Medications all have side effects..some serious.

this too shall pass

[AfraidofLife in reply to Cicinoodle]

My mother and I are looking into some medications. I have been dieting and lost 20 pounds aswell so that makes me feel a bit better, but I guess I still need the extra boost from some medication. I'm kind of uncomfortable with the fact that I will be taking pills to be happy, but then again, all I want is to be my old self again so I'm happy that there are pills to help my condition.

[BonnieSue in reply to AfraidofLife]

I have a disorder with a strong element of anxiety that can't be controlled by willpower called GAD---Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I've had to take a benzodiazepine for 29 years. I have a son with the same disorder and he takes the same drug but at an even higher dose than I ever took. I've been able to drop my dose to 1/4 of my usual dose in this last year. So obviously I am not addicted to it but it has caused some memory problems. My dad has taken a similar drug and has no memory problems at all. It seems we all are different in this. There is no way I could compensate for what this drug has done on my own without any drug and I've learned a tremendous amount of how to cope without drugs.

[tabbw]

I have been struggling with this bad the last few weeks. So much that I get shortness of breath as I doze off so it makes it even harder to fall asleep.

Yur not alone & it sucks

[roxy76]

Quit looking stuff up online lol you're creating fear when you constantly Google your symptoms, doc's right you're fine

[Hidden]

Anxious minds n bodies should never ever look up symptoms online, really is the worst thing to do, you'll just add fuel to the fire, you'll feed the fear n anxiety you already have, when you get the urge to go online again to check symptoms, try checking out something positive instead, try looking up ways of dealing with anxiety n get inspiration from stories of sufferers recovery n success, this will benefit you much more xxxx

[Jeff1943]

AfraidofLife, It's wired into us to want to avoid dying but when we suffer from anxiety disorder everything is magnified ten times greater. I suggest that is what has happened to you and the fear of dying has now become an obsession and not wanting to sleep because you think you will die is a heavy burden to carry.

I give you my personal guarantee that you are most certainly not going to die. You've been examined by doctors who say you are healthy but you don't believe them. In order to give you that diagnosis those doctors had to go to medical school for many years and then obtain years of experience treating people but you say you know more about medical matters than them. I don't think so and if you think about it I'm sure you will agree.

When anxiety strikes for the first time it's very bewildering and every little ache and pain is the harbinger of doom. But I say again, the power of anxiety is limited and although it can give you nadty frights it cannot kill you. So go to sleep tonight in the full knowledge that you will certainly wake up o.k. in the morning, and probably feeling a whole lot better after a good night's sleep.

[kalif in reply to Jeff1943]

Well said....

[kalif]

Try not to be afraid of life..you are young ,Iv suffered for years with anxiety it is a living hell.i feel I have wasted so much time worrying..

Iv been reading Clair weeks books I think she is helping me,she explains all our weird symptoms and why they are happening.give it a go..x

[Hidden]

Evening hunny at your age I was exactly the same - heart felt like it was going to stop - then beat fast - palpations- breathing laboured - sweating etcetc I learned to control it not it control me - it's your mind playing silly buggers with you - how do I know this well - I am now about to turn 68 tomorrow and still here writing this to you in the hope that it helps you to take Control which I ended up doing - still get palpations now and again but ignore them and they soon p... off😂😂 take care.