So I have been having my first long bout of insomnia the last 3 or so months, I have social anxiety and my psychiatrist says this is what dictates my anxiety.

I have actually made real amazing progress in the last week after I was at a severe low point, after spending two nights with my heart racing and sweating sleeping for a mere few hours i went to the GP with the intention of asking for some valiums before being made to wait for 45 minutes and having a brain snap deciding hey thrash this i dont need these pills, my heart rate felt better instantly and I felt great that day (to an extent).

I then slept 7.5 hours that night and have been getting similar nights sleep since, until last night when i worked in the evening in a shop front feeling moderate social anixety (constantly scanning etc).

The thing is I use to be able to be like this and still sleep like a baby, but now I come home and my brain stays in this hyper aware or hyperarousal state and refuses to shut off, I didn't even feel anxious going to sleep or have a racing heart (due to the progress I've made around not caring or getting frustrated when i dont sleep) my brain was simply ON and not turning off, I eventually got to sleep at around 2-2:30 and slept well until 7.

My question is how do you switch off from this hyperarousal state, (I've tried breathing/relaxation exercises etc) but none seem to work my brain just tends to need to extremely slowly unwind from this state before it lets me sleep.

I also find myself in a state where if i play a stressful stimulating computer game like call of duty for an hour or two, i enter this hyperarousal sate, or if i go for a surf my heart rate stays on 220 the whole dam time and it remains elevated and affects my sleep that night. I've had to quit my job at a botttleo becuase of this and am just working with family now.

Any help appreciated.