[Amber]

I am new to this podcast and website. I have struggled on and off with anxiety but I feel I have learned for the most part how to deal with it by letting it wash over me and by understanding it as a normal process of my body just at the wrong time. This type of thinking typically causes the anxiety to lose its power. My anxiety has found insomnia and they’ve become quite a couple. The inability to rest is a major trigger for anxiety. I find that even if I’m feeling calm, when I start to dose, I am immediately awakened with a pang of anxiety in my chest. All I can do is be awake and it becomes very difficult to not spiral. What does one do with this circumstance? Does anyone deal with this? I’m desperate.

[Eggink]

Hello Ajbar: I sure relate to this phenomenon! My anxiety pops up (in my stomach) when I’m slipping into sleep and I find myself feeling even more frustrated/anxious when I can’t fall into sleep.

Finding that getting out of bed and listening to music under a cozy blanket on the couch helps a bit. My sleep is disrupted and I’m not 100 percent the next day, but I try to get on with my plans. As much as I want to relax and read (i.e. be sedentary) I encourage myself to get up and move…it does help.

Good luck and know you likely have a lot of people struggling to manage this. You’re in good company. 😊

[Martin Reed]

Hello Ajbar — thanks for sharing how helpful you’ve found it to acknowledge anxiety and allow it to come and go as it chooses. That is an approach that can reduce the level of struggle it can create and reduce the power and influence it has over your life.

When you are falling asleep and that anxiety shows up in your chest, it’s natural that you are going to feel the pull of the struggle — you are going to have that desire to put on the armor, call in the warhorse, grab the sword and go to war to defeat the anxiety.

Yet, as you know, that’s not a workable strategy. Battling makes it more difficult.

So, perhaps the way forward here is to continue to practice acknowledging and making space for anxiety and any feelings that might come with it to be present and to come and go as they choose — even though you might wish they weren’t present, here they are.

You might practice being more of a curious observer of them rather than an opponent. And, please don’t forget to be kind to yourself when things feel difficult, too. Talk to yourself in a kind way. Act toward yourself in a kind way.

Things feel difficult because they are difficult. And, as suggested by @Eggink, continuing to do things that matter each day can help expand the focus of your attention and reduce the power and influence all these difficult things have over your life.

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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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