[pugs1986]

I have been diagnosed with GAD and although most of the time it's manageable, I notice it gets worse at night. Lately when I'm about to sleep I start worrying about everything possible and I toss and turn. I usually don't fall asleep until 1:00 am then I wake up exhausted with no energy during the whole day. I am going to be starting a new job soon and really need to find some ways of coping or there's no way I'll be able to manage working full time. Please help

[Mustkeepjob32]

Do you take medication or see a therapist? Maybe meditation and mindful breathing would help you. Do you have a smartphone? If so you can download different apps for anxiety that have meditation/relaxation exercises that should help you at night.

[jenniy122]

I have the same issue. For it I take 2mg of klonopin 30 minutes before taking my sleeping pill (Lunesta). I have other sleep issues, like waking up in the middle of the night wide awake unable to go back to sleep until late morning, but that at least gets me to sleep.

I also don't make this recommendation lightly, as every doctor will tell you it is horrible sleep hygiene, but if I'm really worked up (like the first week in a new apartment, or when living with my parents and they go on vacation) I'll go to sleep with music or the tv on to distract my mind.

[Blues47]

I have a habit of trying to mentally address anxieties at night in bed when I should be sleeping. Sometimes if I have so many issues at once that I'm unable to fully focus on any single one, I can talk myself out of obsessing about them and get to sleep. But if I only have one major issue occupying my brain, it's almost impossible to ignore and I end up just watching the hours tick by until it's time for work. Bleah.

Hello Pugs1986: It appears you've been here on PC for a while now. Hopefully you've concluded PC is a great place to gain support, learn strategies for handling mental health concerns, & to make internet friends. There are many wonderfully supportive members here on PsychCentral.

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Hi pugs, do you think a sleep aid (medication) might help you?

I really hate having ECT because it kind of freaks me out, so on nights before and ECT is scheduled the next morning, I usually wake up about 4 hours after I fall asleep and then toss and turn until it's time to get up. It's VERY frustrating, so I know how you feel. I can't take my Xanax on nights before ECT, so I asked my pdoc if he could give me a different sleep med.