How does anxiety affect your sleep? Just curious to hear about other people's experiences. When I'm more anxious, I get physical symptoms as I'm falling asleep, but not so much in terms of thoughts and worries. And I'll wake up several times a night, but I can usually fall asleep again.
Anxiety and Insomnia
- Thread starter avocado
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Hi avocado. My sleeping time is doing much better than years ago. I take .5 mg of Klonopin before bed and average a solid nights' sleep about six days per week. Unfortunately, my panic attacks can occur at my onset of sleep about once a week. On those nights I will get up afterwards, heading downstairs until I settle down. So in general, my anxiety lets me sleep well most nights and I'm in a position to take naps on the days following the nights where I've had difficulty with sleeping.
When am in a super anxious state, I feel like my heart stops as I am falling asleep. I’ll stay awake until I am exhausted then sleep is no more than 2 hours at a time no matter how tired I am. I am very thankful I haven’t felt that way for months. I have been drinking kefir at night and I think that has been helping me sleep better.
I totally get that feeling. My heart just starts beating like crazy and I jolt awake. Lately I've just been able to listen to a few audiobooks and fall asleep.
I don't remember saying anything one way or another BUT I have good and bad nights. Sometimes I sleep fine but other times my mind races and I can't quit obsessing on what I am worrying about. lol Sometimes an attack will wake me up then it takes me awhile to get back to sleep. I always make sure I take my anti anxiety medication before I go to bed. My joints and muscles ache until I find a comfortable position. Any pointers will be appreciated. I have a wonderful husband who knows what I go through and when I am having a bad night he will help me through it.
guitarman65
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I think i could write a book about anxiety and sleep. Was one of my first symptoms of anxiety. I usually get an average of 4 hrs of sleep a night. Some nights worse than others, but 4 hrs is an average for me. This is a little odd because nights are usually when im feeling me best, i just cant sleep well. My mind races at night, and that affects my sleep i think.
My theory is that since i dont ever sleep well, im usually a little "spacy" at night, and also have a Depersonalization or Derealization with my anxiety, so i subconsciously trick my mind to think its just from not sleeping well the night before. This is a very uneducated theory, but it feels like it may be true in my case.
My theory is that since i dont ever sleep well, im usually a little "spacy" at night, and also have a Depersonalization or Derealization with my anxiety, so i subconsciously trick my mind to think its just from not sleeping well the night before. This is a very uneducated theory, but it feels like it may be true in my case.
Hurt&Hopeful
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When my anxiety is REALLY high, I do the jolt awake thing as well. I do have sleep apnea, though, and it's gotten a lot better since I got that diagnosed and treated. If you think about it, apnea basically suffocates you all night, so your body goes into fight or flight and jerks you awake so you'll breathe - it's like mini-panic attacks all night. So that's gotten much better. But in general, when anxiety is just normal/low, I just have periods of insomnia. I just can't get my mind to slow down enough to relax and sleep...
Ah gotchu. Glad its better now that you are getting treated! Have you tried listening to audio books before bed. That's what I do. I listen to some books or podcasts.
Hurt&Hopeful
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No, I haven't - I should try that!