Terrified of going to sleep

[Mamaof2]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone has anything similar. My health anxiety is usually worst right before bed, I become obsessed with the idea that something is wrong with me. Heart palpitations get worse, I feel VERY spaced out and weird, and just terrified of I don't even know what. I really need sleep as my days are long and naps are out of the question. I'm sick of being so scared. Anyone else in the same boat?

[Zeal]

Hey Mamaof2,

I used to get health anxiety, which was connected to my OCD. It's unfortunate that anxiety often becomes more dominant at night and affects sleep. Have you talked to your doctor (GP) about this?

It's important to seek professional help, so that you can get some assistance with developing psychological coping skills. Do you have a supportive family member or friend you can also talk to, for emotional support?

This resource is not a replacement for professional help, but is a great workbook-style booklet that can increase your understanding of health anxiety: http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/infopax.cfm?Info_ID=53 There are a number of others here on the forum who also have experiences with health anxiety. If you'd like to read stories and advice from others too, these links to previous forum threads (conversations) may be of interest:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/pregnancy-and-parenthood/health-anxiety-256C14D79016#qlIUdHHzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/health-anxiety-and-constantly-need-reassurance-#qkz71nHzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/health-anxiety-D393A37FB89B#qk3_ZHHzvGGEbv8AAOnT_A

I hope you can seek help soon 🙂

Best wishes,

Zeal

[BB22]

My anxiety has a different trigger but at first it always got me at night. Luckily I wasn't working and I could only sleep once it started getting light. Some days I ran on 3 hours sleep. It didn't matter how tired I was, once I got into bed it was literally panic stations and I would do everything in my power to stay awake. I don't have a solution for you unfortunately as mine was helped a little by moving in with family and it has gradually reduced over the past 3 years but it is still there some nights. On those nights I have a warm milky drink, take a herbal sleeping tablet, set my rain sounds app going and try to find something to distract me from my thoughts.

[Guest_554]

Wow, I am, and have been the same at night, but it is getting better. I would lay down, try and drift off to sleep, then I get the sensation that I need to gasp for air, as if I am worried I will forget to breathe. I really have to think to myself that I am ok, nothing is going to happen to me.

I now also make a warm milky drink, check in here of late.... prob worst thing to do, as in, use technology.. but does relax me.

[Guest_554]

Not so much for me now, but I was terrible at night. Tingling feet and hands, skipped heart beats, close together, toilet urges, cold clammy feet, was just awful, I so feel for you. 😞

I would just have lamp on in room and phone ready as was sure I was going to have to call an ambulance... not knowing at the time that it was anxiety, panic disorder, and that I am completely fine and nothing bad was going to happen. I hadn't been diagnosed at that stage. Very scary.

Hang in there, do deep breathing exercises before sleep etc .... hope you feel better.

[azarrah]

Definitely, it's the exact same for me, right down the "weird spaced out feeling". It's really awful. I often don't get to sleep before 3am. Fortunately at this time I can wake up late, because it's stuvac before exams, but it isn't making studying easy, being half-asleep during the day. My most recent late-night freakout was realising I have a new mole under my chin which looks a little irregular, which I have been trying to convince myself for the past two days is not melanoma (and before anyone asks, yes, I have an appt. with a doctor in two weeks. Even though I'm being over-dramatic on the fear front, it is best to check moles out anyway).

One thing I found that helps is opening my door just a crack. I live with roommates. Somehow, having the door completely closed makes me feel much more alone and vulnerable...if it is just slightly open, my logic is that if there were ever problem (not that there is, of course), I could more easily get help. Sounds really silly, but it helps me out! I'm not alone in that, either: one of my roommates fell suddenly ill once and we both slept with our doors slightly open, in case she needed me. Neither of us mentioned it to the other, but we both noticed. I think it helped with her peace of mind, as well.

My night-time routine is very drawn-out. After dinner I'll generally come back and do some more work, often with a cup of green tea. I might have a granola or oat bar snack if I'm peckish, and later in the night I'll sometimes have warm milk before going to bed. I'll send a goodnight message to my parents, as well. I don't usually have tea + snack + milk, but I always have at least one, and on nights where I'm feeling really run down, the ritual can bring me back to earth.

Best of luck, and I hope you can combat your nighttime fears. We're all here to support you, if ever you want a late-night chat ❤️

[Up_and_down]

It's funny isn't it how some people just crave bedtime and look forward to it and yet others dread the thought. I suffer from anxiety, health anxiety and depression. When I'm in a bad way the quiet of night is the worst time. You feel every twinge and pain, every pounding heart beat.....and.......did my heart just skip a beat? Your mind starts telling you things, normally not positive. I hate the very strange dreams. They are tiring and I feel like they're an invasion of my brain and personal space. Once I woke up from a deep sleep gasping for air, like I had stopped breathing. (Yikes) not nice. And then there's the thought that I'll get a phone call in the middle of the night telling me someone I love has died, or the car door slamming next door is the police arriving to deliver bad news.

I am cutting down my medication dosage at the moment, and it's doing all kinds of strange things to me. Used to sleep like a log on my old dosage, now on the new one it's a battle to feel sleepy or calm my mind at night.

This is my first post. Im a 48 year old male.

[Guest_554]

hi Up and down, and welcome to you. I have not been here a week yet myself, but everyone has been ever so supportive and welcoming. I spose we are all here to help one another, which is ever so nice. It really helps to be able to type into this space with exactly how I have or am feeling and have people read it that totally understand where you are coming from.

Good luck with the weaning off the meds mate, you will get better. It mustn't be easy. I myself have never been on them, so I can only imagine what you are going thru there.

I have had the waking up gasping for air feeling, it is scary.

My worst thing still at in bed at night would be the tense feeling I still have in my neck, chest and shoulders, foggy head and ringing ears, drives me crazy.

I pray I get to sleep quickly, as once I am asleep, most times I am un aware from then til morning.

Try some deep breathing before bed, listen to some calming sounds on an app or something... nice warm shower etc.

hope this helps, we are all here for you.

[MickeyM]

Hi all

Oh boy, everything I'm reading on these posts, I've experienced! It can be quite scary. I also grind my teeth at night and can wake up really sore.

I try to avoid taking medication (to each their own, whatever works!) but one evening I had terrible anxiety that I couldn't shake, so I took some medication and I had the best night sleep since I can remember, and woke up feeling fantastic. 

I really don't like being on my own at night.

Deep breathing and meditation really helps me.

I try to avoid caffeine in the evening, someone told me that Green tea has a lot of caffeine in it, so I just stick to Chamomile.

We won't talk about the chocolate, I'm sure I read on Google that it's good for anxiety! 😉

I also like taking the herbal sleep supplements, I find it helps.

Mickey

[Up_and_down]

Hi Busybee

Nice to meet you also. Good advice about the relaxing sounds. I remembered an old app I got a few years back with rain, thunder, wind and other sounds. I am going to use it tonight. I remember it was very calming.

You're right about actually sleeping, it does stop the worry, when it even actually happens.

Have a great weekend.