[upallnight2]

I recently started taking Lexipro and on day 2 woke up in the night with intense anxiety and since that night have not been able to sleep. I’ve had some sleep issues in the past but always resolved quickly. Before this I was sleeping great. I’m on day 2 of virtually no sleep. Last night I finally slept from 5-6 (1 hour). Tonight as I was watching tv I was nodding off so was looking forward to being able to sleep tonight. However every time I lay down, extreme anxiety takes over (heart palpatations, tingling in hands and feet, rush of adrenaline to stomach, and extreme panic) so I cannot relax. I don’t know why I’m having this response since I was sure I would sleep tonight after thinking I was tired enough. I’m extremely sleep deprived and can not turn of my “flight or fight” when I lay down. Feel just sick. I don’t see how sleep drive can kick in and best these anxiety symptoms and even if it does, will anxiety just wake me up? Feeling so fearful!

[Martin Reed]

That response of extreme anxiety, heart palpitations, tingling, panic, and a rush of adrenalin is really difficult to experience and it can feel very confusing.

What it actually is, is evidence that your brain is doing its job of looking out for you. It’s trying to protect you from what it has identified as the threat of being awake when you want to be asleep. So, it’s firing up that “fight or flight” response to protect you from being awake.

Sleep drive can overpower that response — eventually — since it’s impossible to remain awake forever. A quicker way to give sleep the opportunity to happen is to explore how, through your actions, you might be able to retrain your brain to recognize that being awake at night isn’t a threat. That, although you’d rather be asleep, being awake isn’t a danger.

This might be done during the night by moving away from trying to make sleep happen and/or putting pressure on yourself to make sleep happen — for example, by doing something else if you find yourself struggling.

This might be done during the day by being kind to yourself when things feel difficult and continuing to do things that matter to you, independently of sleep.

Is there anything useful here?

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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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