shadow
Full Member
Bolin in the deep
Posts: 186
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Anxiety
Aug 17, 2012 20:39:57 GMT -5
Post by shadow on Aug 17, 2012 20:39:57 GMT -5
Anyone else have it?
Right now I can't sleep because I'm riddled with anxiety and I'm not sure why. I hear the slightest noise and become convinced someone is breaking in, I close my eyes and odd movements of light form into weird strange things. My chest is tight so I'm having trouble breathing. And you know when you just have to cover all your limbs with the duvet because otherwise you feel unsafe? I feel like I need to do that but it's so warm I start over heating.
Any suggestions for getting rid of this feeling? It doesn't happen that often, but it's happened more that once. =[
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Anxiety
Aug 18, 2012 3:03:10 GMT -5
Post by plethorian on Aug 18, 2012 3:03:10 GMT -5
That sounds like anxiety insomnia (that's what I'm calling it). I've gotten it once or twice! I feel like the best way to get rid of it is to try breathing in and out deeply for a while. If that doesn't work, then get up and do something that requires focusing all your attention on it. Then, when the task is COMPLETE, you can go to bed having gotten "closure." If you stop halfway then you just keep thinking about the task...
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shadow
Full Member
Bolin in the deep
Posts: 186
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Anxiety
Aug 18, 2012 4:51:06 GMT -5
Post by shadow on Aug 18, 2012 4:51:06 GMT -5
Normally deep breathing helps but my chest was so tight it made it worse. =[ I managed to get to sleep eventually after distracting myself with the internet. I keep getting a tight chest at random moments. I think I will have to go to the doctor and see if my asthma is back. =[
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Anxiety
Aug 18, 2012 16:45:45 GMT -5
Post by plethorian on Aug 18, 2012 16:45:45 GMT -5
That could be it! Mine came back this year too, it sucks. I keep an inhaler in my purse at all times but it isn't too often that I get it so it's not bad. Just helps to have something there for you just in case.
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shadow
Full Member
Bolin in the deep
Posts: 186
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Anxiety
Aug 19, 2012 7:26:45 GMT -5
Post by shadow on Aug 19, 2012 7:26:45 GMT -5
Yeah, I had it when I was a kid and grew out of it. My OH got an inhaler this year, but I'm loathed to use it in case my tight chest is something else. =/
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Anxiety
Aug 22, 2012 17:38:30 GMT -5
Post by mercurial on Aug 22, 2012 17:38:30 GMT -5
I have really bad anxiety, and I find that when I cant sleep and am hyperaware, listening to something that is simple enough to not require much of your attention (you are trying to fall asleep, after all) but at the same time enough to relieve your anxiety really helps. My suggestions would be stand-up comedy routines or relaxed talking-oriented podcasts. Also, if talk-based stuff isn't your thing, new-age or chill-out music helps. I recommend Enya or Chicane if you like pretty, frilly music, Emancipator if you like more jazzy stuff, Keiko Matsui if you like smooth jazz, and I recommend Nightmares on Wax and Nujabes if you like ambient, quiet music. My iPod is full of these, and I will listen to them as I fall asleep. I actually don't have anxiety while falling asleep anymore usually, but now I'm just used to it and I still do that. Another suggestion is to accept that you're hyperaware and not worry about sleep and instead get up and do something that relaxes you. For example, if you crochet or knit (or if this is a frequent problem, you could think about learning for this very reason) you could turn on a late-night informercial (the more boring, the better!) and knit. Or you could do sudoku, a crossword puzzle, or read a non-adventurous book. Personally I recommend the audio because light can cause your body to think it's morning --and because while the other activities are relaxing, they're still active. Listening (or better yet, just hearing) to background noise is a more passive activity, and, as a bonus, it will dull your senses --you can close your eyes, and your ears are not focused on strange bumps in the night. But either is better than just laying there. As for the tight chest, I sometimes get that too. It is probably your body's physiological reaction to anxiety --it doesn't happen to everyone, but it does happen. Just like some people have stomach aches when they're anxious, your chest tightens. You can do deep breathing, but also any acid-reflux over-the-counter med should help with this too. I have used Prilosec, and it takes a while to work, but it is effective. I'm not sure if it has the same name in the UK. You can also ask your doctor about propranolol. It has a lot of brand names, but the most famous brand name is Inderol. I believe it was originally developed to treat hypertension, however one if it's FDA-approved (I guess that might not matter in the UK though, lol) uses is for tachycardia (fast heart rate) due to anxiety. Many people now call it stage fright medicine, and a lot of politicians will take it shortly before they deliver a speech because it physically relaxes them and makes them appear more confident --no shaking hands or sweating or nervous stutters. Some surgeons will even take it to stop hand tremors. This might be enough to reduce your anxiety and relieve or even prevent your chest pain. I hope this helps you out a bit! Obviously this is a problem near and dear to my heart (lol, pun?), and I hope you can get it resolved! xx
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shadow
Full Member
Bolin in the deep
Posts: 186
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Anxiety
Aug 22, 2012 19:25:46 GMT -5
Post by shadow on Aug 22, 2012 19:25:46 GMT -5
I will check out those music artist. I love good chill out music. I actually listen to audio books as I fall asleep. Ones I've already read of course.
I went to my doctor and he said the tight chest is probably due to acid caused by the anxiety and he's given me some meds for that to see how I get on. I am hoping that will help.
I'm reluctant to take any long term anxiety-meds because I know my situation is short term and in a few weeks it will be over, and I can cope with it till then. But I may look into the short term ones if the anti-acids don't work.
Thanks a lot for the reply though. =]
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Anxiety
Aug 22, 2012 22:09:19 GMT -5
Post by appleorchardghost on Aug 22, 2012 22:09:19 GMT -5
I was on short-term anxiety meds for two months, for kind of the same problem as you, and it worked well. Obviously, it's not a fix-all, but it did calm me down enough to get to sleep and sleep through the night.
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Anxiety
Aug 22, 2012 23:39:42 GMT -5
Post by mercurial on Aug 22, 2012 23:39:42 GMT -5
Oh, absolutely! I don't take any medicine long term unless it's absolutely necessary; I think both of the meds I mentioned are safe enough for long-term daily use, basically, but I only took them as I needed them. Anyway, good luck! I hope your doctor's advice is helpful and that whatever is causing you so much anxiety at night (it sounds like you know what it is, if you think you'll be better in a few weeks) passes as soon and calmly as possible!
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shadow
Full Member
Bolin in the deep
Posts: 186
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Anxiety
Aug 23, 2012 4:09:52 GMT -5
Post by shadow on Aug 23, 2012 4:09:52 GMT -5
I have an exam next week which is really playing with me, and living with my parents and being dependent on them is not helping. So, once the exam is out the way next week, I can start looking for a job and then a place to live, so it should be better. =]
Thanks a lot for the advice. If it persists, I will look into it. I don't have a lot of trouble sleeping, its more the gnawing anxiety throughout the day that is the issue. =]
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Anxiety
Aug 24, 2012 13:43:02 GMT -5
Post by ladylightning on Aug 24, 2012 13:43:02 GMT -5
I used to have real sleep problems, probably connected to the mass anxiety that was stalking me at the time, but also due to bad habbits and just not getting that 'tired' feeling when it was night time.
Melatonin tablets are the best things I have EVER come across. They work wonders for my dad who has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and has real trouble keeping a regular sleep pattern, but are fine for perfectly healthy people too, as it's all to do with natural things your body releases when it's time to sleep anyway. If that makes any sense? =P At any rate, google it. They are fabulous, and I swear by them completely.
You don't even wake up sleepy, like with other tablets. It's just a tablet to send you off, so to speak.
As for the feeling of being unsafe, I'm terribly sorry you feel that way. Alcohol isn't always the answer, but if it's a one off feeling of can't sleep, too anxious, I recommend a glass of wine or brandy and milk (with honey) before bed =D x
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shadow
Full Member
Bolin in the deep
Posts: 186
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Anxiety
Aug 24, 2012 17:11:09 GMT -5
Post by shadow on Aug 24, 2012 17:11:09 GMT -5
A local farm used to sell melatonin milk. It occurs naturally in milk anyway, but the percentage is higher if you milk the cows at night because the cows are naturally sleepy. Unfortunately they don't produce it any more, I'm not sure why.
Anxiety runs in my family, but fortunately for me, I seem to have it milder than the others. Though I have had it as long as I can remember.
I may look into the melatonin tablets just to keep some handy in case it ever occurs again. But I am really hoping that it subsides a lot after my exam next week. While my chest hasn't been tight since going on the anti-acids, I still get stomach cramps. =[
The feeling of being unsafe was a combination of being at the OH's parents house when his parents weren't there and being generally scared of the dark anyway (yes I am 23 and still scared of the dark!) Wine does make me sleepy, but I don't know how well I would work with being really anxious on alcohol.
I will add that the OH was asleep at the time, normally he is very good at keeping me calm and looking after me if I am anxious. =]
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Anxiety
Aug 25, 2012 8:01:32 GMT -5
Post by ladylightning on Aug 25, 2012 8:01:32 GMT -5
Melatonin milk? What madness is this?!
I'd totally buy that if it was still around. x
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triplash
Junior Member
Blanket Queen
Posts: 54
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Anxiety
Aug 27, 2012 15:01:26 GMT -5
Post by triplash on Aug 27, 2012 15:01:26 GMT -5
Just here to say I don't suffer with anx much anymore (as i barely leave the house perhaps) but I do understand and it sucks motherfucking balls. I can also really get behind the sleep hyper awareness! Which is why i tend to prefer to be awake/not sleep until 7 or 8 in the morning, alas if the internet were real life..
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shadow
Full Member
Bolin in the deep
Posts: 186
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Anxiety
Mar 27, 2013 8:25:13 GMT -5
Post by shadow on Mar 27, 2013 8:25:13 GMT -5
So, I still have anxiety. Over the past few months I've had a few 'panic attacks'. I put it in inverted commas because I don't think they are traditional panic attacks, like I don't hyperventilate. I just get the overwhelming feeling of needing to get out coupled with crying and hypertension. I can't stop crying and need a fair bit of time to get calm and I feel exhausted afterwards. One was related to skiing, I was learning this Christmas and the second day was so busy that I could barely move and it really set me on edge and then I just couldn't get what my OH was trying to teach me and it got too much. Another was because I was choosing glasses and the OH pushed me emotionally, telling me to wait and get them another time, but my mum was paying and I needed them then and so yeah. Also, my mum 'told off' my OH (don't even get me STARTED on that) and them having that argument set me off.
So, just wondering if anyone else gets this sort of panic attack? Cos it's not 'traditional' so I'm not sure what I can do about it. My OH thinks I should go to the Doctors and tell them about it so I can get some stand by meds to calm me down if I need it. But I don't want to go because talking about it makes me anxious. Oh the horrible wed of life.
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