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Hi everyone! Im having a really tough time. I currently going through a terrible insomnia cycle. The longest yet I’ve experienced. Almost 5 weeks now. It started after I stopped taking my lexapro. I ended up having a very bad panic attack while driving. I had to pull over to try to get a grip.. I was not able to calm down. So my mother had to come save me .lol.mind you I’m 39 years old. Anyway , it set me up for a not great sleep. I had 4 hrs that night ,which don’tseem so bad now that I’m getting 2. After one night it spiraled into weeks of this. I’m not being dramatic when I say I’m getting 2 hrs a night. No naps in the day.. I honestly don’t know how I’m alive right now.. I’m feeling so anxious I going insane.. My boyfriend is getting tired of it because it is affecting him.. I also have 2 kids and my own cleaning business that is taking off. I don’t have time for this! My boyfriend makes me even more anxious because he’ tells me I can’t go on like this, I need my sleep .or I’m going to get ill.. or end up in looney bin.. my worst fear! He gets upset cause I won’t help myself by taking a ambien , or other pills. I’m not starting that because I feel I will only cause myself for issues… I have to conquer this on my own..soneone please talk to me I feel like I’m so alone and afraid I’m going to croke from this and is it eveN possible
Dear Hopeful, first of all thanks for replying to my post -it means SO much that we are not alone doesn’t it….So I looked for your posts straight away and found you here.
This sounds horrific too. And I relate to so much. Ive also had it v bad recently, since the end of August infact. It got so bad I felt I was blacking out in town & had to get home fast -plus also twice at work I had to leave & compose myself -somehow. This triggered my anxiety so bad I feared I would lose the ability to do simple out-there things such as shop, work, take the bus -agoraphobia basically -wch I did have many yrs ago. The sleep dep was so bad it merged with the world of panic attack. Luckily I managed to do some quick exposure therapy with good friends so it didn’t spread to a problem beyond the bloody sleep thing. Yours came the other way round this time -the panic attack first -either way I think they are linked.
My sleep’s been up & down, mainly down. I used to go whole nights -nothing… in a row. Lately it’s been little bits, an hour or so of sleep but it’s creeping up…:)….It goes in different patterns doesn’t it? The main agony is the waking self up bit, at the start of sleep. It meant so much that you understand this, I usually feel so alone and absurd when I try & explain it.
I too have come to know only I can save me. I got clear for 3 yrs & made great progress in my life & confidence. Then it crept back…And I realised although they were good, I was relying on the antidepressants I’d finally gone on after yrs of anxiety & insomnia, and that the fear was bigger & only I could cure it. How? It’s getting that state of mind right in the first place -that state of centre and ease and trust. I’m starting to work with this -whatever it takes but it can be V V hard (the long set habit & the FEAR)
I also work in cleaning but not as boss! I’ve bn v stressed about packing one job in due to the sleep & workload. I love the ppl I work for & hate letting ppl down. Now I also do support work on mental health inpatient ward – I seriously feel it is v unlikely you would end up there….Though I completely understand. Plus the fear of stroke or death or something!!! I absolutely avoid reading anything where they talk about the ‘serious health risks’! Last thing I need.
I do have hope despite all this. And that we will come out pretty much fearless & at ease with ourselves and life (those of us where its psychological)….Yes have considered hypnosis, down for sleep clinic CBT -LONG wait list….Trying to heal self at moment……The habit of fear….You WILL NOT die & you WILL get in a better phase soon + when we get a good sleep phase again our bodies do alot of recovery x x x
Hello hopefull1979 and welcome to the forum. I’m sorry to hear about your struggles with sleep. It must be very concerning to have been facing sleep disturbances for the past five weeks.
It’s perfectly natural for sleep to be disrupted due to a stressful event such as a panic attack. Unfortunately, what can easily happen is once the stressful event passes, sleep doesn’t recover.
Usually, this is because we start paying a lot of attention to our sleep — more than we did before the event that initially disrupted our sleep. We also tend to start worrying about sleep and even practice compensatory behaviors such as spending more time in bed, canceling plans with friends, or calling in sick to work.
Unfortunately, worrying about sleep, and compensatory behaviors such as those I mentioned, can actually make sleep worse — and this perpetuates the problem even more.
The result is a vicious cycle of ever-increasing worry and anxiety, and ever-worsening sleep.
First of all, let me reassure you that you are not going to die as a result of insomnia. Sleep is a biological function and it never goes away. Eventually, you will sleep.
Sleep is a bit like breathing — just as we can hold our breath, eventually, the body will take over and force us to breathe. Just as we can suspend sleep (usually through worry and anxiety), eventually the body will take over and force us to sleep.
It’s also worth mentioning that most of the time, people with insomnia tend to underestimate the amount of sleep they get — so it’s reasonably likely that you are getting a bit more sleep than you think you are.
Have you discussed your sleep issues with your doctor? You may want to talk to them about CBT for insomnia — and the good news is that the easier you get started on the road to addressing your sleep issues, the easier they will be to resolve.
—If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.
The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.
Dreamtsleep. It’s nice to know we aren’t alone . I’m doing better . It was all my frame of mind. My body knew how to sleep, it was me not allowing myself to . I was in such a fight flight mode I was too aware of my body. I just don’t allow myself to think about sleep during the day, and go on my usual routine. There is definitely hope with all this.
Thank you so much.. I am doing better. I’m not in a state of anxiety like I was. I still continue to wake up a lot or or tooearly.it will take take time to get back to normal , but that is okay. Thank you aagain..This site is so helpful.
Way to go! As you rightly identified, your body knows how to sleep and it never loses the ability to sleep. Learning to accept this (which can be challenging and take time) often leads to less anxiety and better sleep.
—If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.
The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.
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