[DannoM]

I’ve been working through this program and have had success. Mainly in my daily life. My anxiety doesn’t affect my work or family life. For which I’m grateful and see as a huge win.

I feel like I’m on the edge of breaking through this, but also feel like I’ve plateaued. I struggle right at bed time. When I lay down it’s like an out of control snowball of anxious thoughts that I’ve managed well throughout the day but when I get into bed, boom here it comes.

I really struggle getting out of bed, especially when it’s late. (I get up at 5:30) so when the clock gets closer to midnight I start to really get frustrated. I’ve noticed the days I go to bed around 10, I do better. Mainly cuz I think ok, I’ve got 2 hours, I’ve never laid in bed that long and not fallen asleep. Getting out of bed wakes my wife and she gets frustrated. So I try to watch some YouTube videos. But all I’m thinking about is “am I tired enough for sleep?” I know sleep wins out no matter what, but it feels like my body gets more anxious the more tired I am.

Before my sleep issues, I remember being able to feel sleep coming on, and relaxing into that and being out quick. I felt like I could sleep anytime anywhere. It was always a joke in my family, when I was 2 I said hey grandpa watch this and went straight to sleep. Never had a problem, when I wanted to go sleep I would, so I never worried about it. Then my sleep problems started and I feel like I lost control, and it (insomnia) took control.

I guess all this to say. I’m doing better, my “bad” nights aren’t as bad as I think, and my days after as well. When I try mindfulness exercises to relaxing I get more anxious when I’m not relaxing. What’s a good way to hit that reset button on my brain to relax and not wake my wife by getting out of bed?

[Martin Reed]

Thanks for sharing, DannoM — and welcome to the forum!

It’s probably not so much the anxious thoughts that are making sleep difficult — but, rather, the battle you might be engaging in, in an effort to fight or avoid them.

What can be more workable is acknowledging them and allowing them to come and go as they please. By making space for them, you withdraw from a battle with your mind.

You might find this related forum post helpful.

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