Evil cycle of insomnia and anxiety

[Groucho]

I've been getting gradually worse insomnia over the last 6 months, it comes about through really bad anxiety. I lie in bed and just as I feel like I'm about to fall asleep, I get jerked awake by a weird chest pain like a short sudden electrocution, it happens over and over again until I manage to fall asleep but more often I end up awake for days. I'm 23 and I've been living by myself for about a year, this causes some major anxiety and panic attacks because I don't really have someone here I can talk to about it. I've put on far too much weight recently which is something I'm trying to control because I feel like it's not just affecting my mental health but I get physical symptoms like sweating, nausea and dull chest pains etc. I get terrified by anxiety related chest pains and I have a deep fear that my anxiety will kill me within less than 2 years. I've been put on beta blockers, I've stopped drinking and smoking and I'm trying to get more exercise but I don't feel like these things are helping. Evenings for me are spent in a vicious cycle of worries about whether I can get a few hours sleep and whether I'll feel horribly anxious before I go to bed. Often my anxiety and insomnia leads me to stay the night at my mums because it's a place where I can relax a little easier.

I don't know if anyone can help me or if anyone will find this useful in any way but it's 6am and I think I just needed this.

[Hidden]

Try some Magnesium it helps you sleep.

[anxiouslady13]

I agree with TimTim22 about magnesium but please speak with your doctor before trying it since you are on a beta blocker. Anxiety is such a nasty thing. This forum has helped me. Even if I was just venting here and I didn't get too many responses, just getting it out of my mind and off my chest helped. Thank goodness you can counton your mom. I hope you feel better and are able to cope!