So sorry. Sleep problems are awful.

I go through periods of time where I wake up in a fog, or before going to sleep, feeling that I am going to die. Then, I get afraid of sleep and avoid it. It comes in waves. Fortunately right now, things are a little better, but it never lasts. I am not sure what triggers it exactly. I also can't sleep without heavily sedating meds, but at the same time, that perpetuates the thought that I am going to die from medication.

I wish there was a clear-cut answer to this. If you're in therapy, maybe some cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you as far as some of the thought patterns and reassurance? Meditation before bed sometimes provides a little bit of relief as far as some of the anxiety, in my experience. Do these problems come and go? If you can pinpoint any triggers, that could potentially help as well.