[concettahough]

I have been going through this for many years. I have no trouble falling asleep but then just to awake 2 hours later. it is very frustrating. I have suffered from panic attacks and or anxiety for 10 years. the panic attacks went away many years ago. I was waking every hour around four years ago, and was happy that it spread out to two, some nights I can go three. I truly wish I could do at least 5-6. I used to be a 10pm to 6am girl for most my life.
It is annoying. I can fall asleep by 8pm or 9pm, on the couch, its hard to stay awake, but omg by 11-12 I am up! then go back and wake up at 2, then idk its so frustrating. I do not think I have slept more than 3-4 hours in one block in like 6 years,
I do not like to take medication, I try sleepytime tea.
I did try to stay up till midnight then I can go till 4, I hate the constant waking.
I do not understand why my brain keeps waking me up. Then there are night when I dream a lot and keep waking as well, I live alone, my past is a divorce 12 years ago, moving across country by myself. NY to California. I know i had lots of anxiety, like not wanting to even go to work or leave my apartment. I had lots of financial worries and changes.
But, I just want to SLEEP lol!

[SeanMD91]

Hey there, I’m going through the same exact same thing. What helps me is knowing that we actually wake up several times an hour but we don’t usually remember it, I’m beginning to think that maybe my brain has identified these awakenings as a threat so it’s paying more attention to them now and so we are actually remembering them.

[hiker]

Hi concettahough, I hope you will consider taking Martin’s course. He devotes quite a bit of time to how to deal with thoughts surrounding insomnia. They can keep the insomnia going, even after life stresses like divorce, moving, finances etc. have passed.

The course also addresses nighttime awakening, which, as SeanMD91 points out, we can start to see as a threat—so much so that waking up at night becomes a source of anxiety in itself.

Regardless whether you take the course, I hope you stick with the forum, to see the common themes, and also the success stories. You will see that you can’t control sleep, and there are setbacks, but that it can definitely get better.

[Author]

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