[a bland]

is it sleep meds not working or is it anxiety meds not working? im confused which one r u talking about? maybe u need to try a new med? i would talk to ur pdoc about it.

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

I had this same thing this time last year. For months it took hours to fall asleep and when I did I was waking up shortly after only to take a long time again to get back to sleep. It was absolutely horrible and from going so long with so little sleep I was a complete and utter mess and my T tried to convince me to check myself into the hospital for a little while to be evaluated. It was horrible and the psych docs didn't want to give me any sleeping medications saying it would be worse in the long run.

So I worked with my T and he gave me some extremely useful ways to help with this. It worked so quickly too. It only took a week before I was sleeping through the night only taking a couple minutes to fall asleep. But I noticed a difference the second night I tried it. It works well and fast and IMO better than sleeping meds. I've posted about it before but it saved me, I was such a disaster but it really worked wonders on me.

Of course it was the anxiety that kept me awake all those nights. And when you're anxious/panicky your brain goes into fight or flight mode and sleep is the last thing your body wants to do. So the anxiety gets you wired. Add to that the fear and unease of not being able to sleep and it's a recipe for disaster. When you start having sleep troubles you start to worry about being able to fall asleep to which you start thinking "I am never going to get to sleep"... "I'm never going to get a good nights sleep"... "This isn't working it's useless" etc... Your mind believes what you are thinking and you don't get good sleep.

Sounded like bologna when I first heard my T explain it like that but I'm glad I still listened. He said what to do is to use positive affirmations. From the time you wake up in the morning until the time you go to bed keep telling yourself all day "I will get good sleep tonight." "I will feel rested in the morning" "I will fall asleep quickly tonight" and things like those. It convinces your mind that you are able to sleep and in turn your mind is able to rest. It's incredible how much our minds control our actions behaviors and even physical bodies!

You can change up the affirmations to whatever works best for you. I also use the "I will not have bad dreams tonight" and I do still have bad dreams but I only remember like one dream every couple weeks as opposed to every single day waking up fearful.

Convincing your mind can realy work wonders on your body. It's amazing how wonderful this technique has been for me. I post about it a lot on this forum because it really did help me and when he first suggested it I thought there was no way in the world it would work. But being as desperate as I was I tried it and am so thankful I did . I sleep solidly and soundly and get well rested, and even before my anxiety peaked last year I've always had sleeping issues but the positive affirmations have made my sleeping better than I can ever remember it being without strong meds.

[unaluna]

I agree with pfm - this is the first time I've ever heard anybody uses my technique I thought I invented when I was a kid, if I saw a spider during the day, I had to tell myself, "I hope I don't dream about spiders tonite - no I won't!" And then I wouldn't. Otherwise I would.

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

It does work with other fears as well, it's incredible how well it works. I use it during day to day life. Had PTSD from a car accident but with the help of these positive affirmations I dont have panic attacks on the interstate anymore, unless of course there is a careless driver then I might lol