Health anxiety issues....what's wrong with me, haha!

[Titan4757]

Hello all! Happy Valentines Day! I'm a 38 year old male and trying to naturally work through a panic disorder that's turned into other phobias like health and fear of falling asleep. I've been to the doc and for it but decided not to take the pills after getting home. I'm not a pill person or maybe I'm really stubborn, lol. Lack of sleep is hurting my work and everyday life. Anyone have some support or suggestions or just care to share their experience?!

[Hidden]

Hi Titan4757. I too have health anxiety and fear of falling asleep. I have been better lately but it's still there . I now fall asleep but end up waking up at night. I am also a no medicine person unless it's absolutely detrimental for my health. The only thing that I have been able to gather from my research is that we should refrain from using any electronic device at least an hour before bed (clearly I don't follow that one). And to try to sleep in a cool dark room. Breathing exercises and meditation before bed are good and I hear weighted blankets are also good because they help you sleep better. Those are the only suggestions I have for you hopefully they can help you with your sleep.

[Titan4757 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, Swan. Any advice helps! I've been getting tremors now when lying down. Body shakes for what I feel no reason but seems to be related to stress and lack of sleep over time. I need to get about 20 hours straight through without interruption to catch up and rest my brain. Hopefully I'll accomplish this on my next day off.

[masteringmyself]

Just remember that sleep is the best friend of anxiety / panic

When you’re sleeping you are relaxing / healing the mind. Sleep will put you at ease / a state of relaxation.

I know how you feel because I used to have BAD sleep anxiety

To where the point comes to fall asleep and I pass out instead

[Titan4757 in reply to masteringmyself]

I will. Thank you, masteringmyself! Hope you're over your symptoms or getting closer! Dealing with some stress tremors now when lying down. Not enough sleep to heal. I may start using a natural supplement that makes me sleepy or a sleep aid like ZzzQuil from NyQuil. It would be nice to be back to a regular sleep pattern and not feel like a vampire/zombie, haha!

[masteringmyself in reply to Titan4757]

I’ve been drinking a lot of peppermint and stress relief tea to counter the negative effects of anxiety. It helps most of the time. I hope that things get better for you as well ! We’re all in this together