Anxiety at Night

I haven't heard much about this, so I thought I'd ask here. I'm diagnosed with various anxiety disorders, as well as bipolar. Before I ever had any of these disorders, other than mild anxiety, I didn't feel comfortable at night. Sometimes I would cry for no real reason other than that the night made me feel bad. Now I usually get terrible anxiety (and sometimes depression) at night. Klonopin sometimes helps and sometimes doesn't. I try to go to bed early to minimize the time I spend awake at night. Is this like a version of Seasonal Affective Disorder? Does anyone else have this problem? Or have any suggestions? Thanks!

Unico- I am not sure that I have any answers for you, but I do experience anxiety at night like you do. At first it was about going to work in the morning. I have since quit. Now get anxious about my husband leaving me to go to work in the morning. I do take my meds and am very compliant, and this helps a lot. Talking about it helps me put things into perspective and seems to help the anxiety lesson. I hope that you feel better soon. Tuti

Thank you, tutitaylor!

Nighttime has always been the worst for me for anxiety. I don't get them anymore *knock wood* but when I was having bad panic attacks they always happened during the night. Even now it's when I feel most anxious and can't stop thinking about everything.

All I can offer for suggestions are things like doing something to distract your mind if you can, maybe read a chapter in a book or a magazine article, put on the radio to soft music and really listen to the music, let it calm you...even just walking around my room helped when I was highly agitated, just moving my body around and focusing on the feeling of my legs moving and the floor under my feet. Anything that shifts your focus from the panic. Good luck to you and I hope you feel better.

In bed, my mind is not distracted by everyday things. It is more likely for me to have anxiety then.

Also, I was abused in bed; bed triggers me. When I was four/five, I was scared of the BED. Like something was in it!

As an adult, I am learning now to soothe myself at night. Andy talks to me on the phone, but not all night, unless I want to be awake all night.

I still don't sleep til about 3 or 4am.

I watch programs that are funny or listen to songs I like and can sing along with.

I try to make my nights as pleasant as possible, I take 50 mg of benadryl (over the counter---the only med I trust without side effects). I eventually fall asleep.

Billi

I have problems with the night too. It is more that I am afraid that bad things will happen at night. I can trace my anxiety of the night back to some past trauma....not sure if that helps