Anxiety can't sleep

[Helen89W]

Currently lying in bed since 9pm and still haven't fallen asleep. Im very lucky and usually I'm able to drift off but tonight it feels louder than ever and o can feel my heart racing and like a elephant sat on my chest no sign of sleep yet. The more I look at the time the worse it gets. Any advice much appreciated

[Thenoiseisreal]

White noise on your phone, earphones, airpods or just beside your bed? Body scans or guided meditation? THey normally work for me.

[Glynis-ringingears]

Try play a natural sound on your phone and use pillow speakers if don't sleep alone.Keep the sound at mixing point and not louder.

Take care

Glynis

[Nathalie_007]

ask your GP about Melatonin to help you. It is perfectly safe and non-addictive 👍

[Mirador1]

I really feel for you. I suffered with this earlier last year. I literally had nights with absolutely no sleep at all. I'd get up, read, go back to bed and still lie there wide awake. I decided to visit the Dr and asked for mild sleeping tablets. Now if I know I won't sleep these really help. White noise and radio do not help when it's really bad. I've had tinnitus for over 30 years but recently decided to have it diagnosed following this latest problem with sleep. Have a hearing test and tympanometry test tomorrow. Hope you are able to find help

[Philip6]

Kirkland Sleep Aid pills, Costco or eBay. Non addictive and work very well. Just knowing you have them can help.

[Graham-E]

Hi Helen,

Some great advice already on here.

I was told about the practice of, if you cannot get to sleep in 15 minutes, getting up, making your bed and start over your wind down process. Things like brushing your teeth and setting an alarm to signal that you are getting ready for bed. As we painfully know phones etc make all this worse for sleep. Keeping a pad and pen beside the bed to write down all your worries and things you must do tomorrow. This is like giving your worries to someone else and can be very effective.

I find an audiobook in a timer to be amazing because who doesn’t like a bedtime story?

Very best and I hope you find a way through this without resorting to watching “Parliamentlive TV” as a sleep resource! 😊

Best and take care - G

[RobWG]

Hi

As others I use sounds to get to sleep. initially on speakers and now using earbuds

My preference is natural noise. Definitely helps me

Regards

Rob

[LadyGrey1]

I’ve experienced the same on many, many nights, it’s hellish! When the lack of sleep got so bad I was prescribed Zopiclone which is a heavy duty sleeping tablet. The doctors won’t easily prescribe it and won’t give many if they do, as it’s very addictive so they’re for emergencies only! I find they quieten the T right down to almost nothing and send me to sleep, although the T comes back the next day. This might not happen for everyone but I found a thread on an American forum where others had found the same. It sounds great I know, but it’s just a temporary fix for when things are really bad. May be worth asking your doctor.

I’m also on the antidepressant, Mirtazapine for the anxiety the T produces, which is sedative on a low dose (7.5mg) that may be all you need if you normally sleep ok.

I hope some of this is useful.

[ghlla]

You are not alone in this! Just last night I had an entirely sleepless night, lay in bed for around 8 hours trying to sleep. That's my second full sleepless night in a week.

Generally I do find the recommendations from others do help. I have Snoozeband headphones which are lightweight and allow me to lie on my side. I listen to audio books, podcasts, sometimes just a 10 hour whitenoise playlist.

I'm also finding meditation to be helpful in general, when I don't sleep I no longer have panic attacks, the Calm app on my phone has really helped.

But I admit I'm still having the sleepless nights too often, which in turn makes the tinnitus go up to a 8 or 9 out of 10, whereas on a good day I'd rate it a 2 out of 10.