depression, anxiety and sleeping

[Jas_b54]

I go to bed each night lay my head on the pillow and most night l start getting this anxious feeling some nights worse than others

When l am like this its stops me from going to sleep the anxiety , depression can get worse getting me upset then l have to get up from the bed sometimes l can be up all night heading to bed around 5am.

Can anyone gives me any suggestions that might help  Jas_b54

[I_just_wanna_relax]

I'm not sure I can help as I am looking for an answer myself. I've considered counselling but I'm a little embarrassed my mind is sending me crazy 😞

 I have a 9 month old daughter and firstly the biggest fear i ever had about being a mum, was having a little girl. The world we live in is as dangerous as it is beautiful and with my already overactive mind having a girl has made it worse. Going to bed each night means I lay there thinking about the "what if's" what if some one hurt my baby, what if I forgot she was in the car and I went to work, what if she chocked on something, what if she burnt herself or even as far as what if we were going for a walk along a jetty and she fell into the ocean??? Crazy right! Well it won't stop I have tried so Many tools to try and help and it's got to a point now where I cant sleep and I need help. 

Is this normal for a first time mum? Thankyou 🙂 

[Avarael]

I don't know. 😞 I often get that too. Do you know if there's a source to the anxiety? Do you find it linked to thoughts at all or is it just physical?

Some meditation techniques have actually helped me though. I just deeply concentrate on being on a beach or something. A loud clock once put me to sleep. That one could go either way. It also helps me to have a clean room and have a sleep time rituals where I turn everything off,  get into nice pajamas, clean my face and teeth. Then just accept that tomorrow will come when it comes.

As a last resort you could consider a sleeping pill but I'd talk to a doctor first about it. I hope things get easier for you.

[Chris_B]

Hi everyone, poor sleep is a common symptom of anxiety and depression. Have a look through the threads below, you'll not only find other members who have been through this, but some tips for getting better sleep as well:

I can't sleep

Sick of getting no sleep

Feeling very overwhelmed can't sleep

Need to sleep

Counting sheep

[caringBear2015]

Depression and anxiety is not easy to deal with at night time especially when I comes too sleeping at night what I find is helpful is at night I say too my self clear your mind like a clear glass of water... so when you go too sleep tonight think in ur head a clear glass of water or a jug sitting on the bench what u see nothing its clear n say to urself clear ur mind like a clear glass of water 

[Miss-Anne-Throwpy]

I so feel for everyone in this situation. I'm the same. I go to bed tense. I wake up tense. I wake up numerous times in between night and morning. I wake up exhausted so assume I'm sleeping tense.

No amount of trying to will myself to relax works. Have just been prescribed medication. It's an anti psych but I'm hoping it is the tool I'm lacking.

See your GP.

[Trish_M]

Thanks Chris B for the suggested threads to look at, I'm sure they'll be helpful.

You're so right about poor sleep being a common symptom of depression and anxiety, so many mention having problems and for me, the quality and quantity is constantly changing. I sometimes can't fall asleep, sometimes I can't stay awake but then wake after 2-3 hours and don't go back to sleep, on other occasions, I sleep for 7-8 hours but don't feel refreshed in the morning.

Despite all this, I do try to look for the positive.....I am no longer in the workforce so I can always have a nap if needed. If I do wake up un-refreshed, I still get up at the same time as once I get moving, I do feel better. If I wake in the middle of the night and am unable to get back to sleep, I find it best to get up and do some easy reading or TV watching or listening to soothing music, no computer and I do these things to stop my mind from ruminating, a most unhelpful practice.

Thanks for all of the helpful hints.

Regards, Trish M.