Username: Alyssa1995

Date posted: 44w ago

Sleep anxiety

Has anyone experienced fear of not falling asleep? I have never had sleep issues before but after a bout of jet lag 3 months ago, my sleep has been terrible. This last week, I’ve only managed to sleep 3-5 hours a night because I’m just so SCARED of not sleeping. I’m unable to function because I’m obsessing about not sleeping and the terrifying effects it has on the mind and body. I’m afraid I’m going to end up losing my mind from not sleeping. Last night I was able to get 4 hours of deep sleep, but I was in bed for a total of 14 hours and just tossed and turned. Can anyone relate to this? I’m so scared I’ve been vomiting and nonstop crying 💔😭

Username: ImmyxoImmyxo

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 44w ago

Yes - I experienced this on and off for years. Quite badly when I was around 14 which was many years ago. It’s very very scary, but the best thing to do is allow yourself to feel the discomfort. You can’t think or push away these thoughts - they only make them stronger. You have to accept the POSSIBILITY that the feared outcome might happen. Only then does it lose its power. ERP is very helpful for this. You will get through this❤️❤️

Username: Alyssa1995Alyssa1995

Date posted: 44w ago

@Immyxo Did you also only get a few hours of sleep a night?

Username: ImmyxoImmyxo

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 44w ago

@Alyssa1995 It defo took a lot longer for me to fall asleep which scared me - I would usually end up falling asleep just because I was so tired from all the ruminating and trying to force myself to sleep.

Username: ImmyxoImmyxo

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 44w ago

@Alyssa1995 I’d wake up and check how many hours I had been asleep and if it had been more than 7 I’d be like ‘oh good I can sleep fine’ but then the thought would always come back during the day ‘what if I can’t sleep again’ and so on

Username: Alyssa1995Alyssa1995

Date posted: 44w ago

@Immyxo I’m unable to fall asleep entirely it seems. I can only seem to fall asleep from complete exhaustion and can only sleep for like 3-4 hours maximum :( I’ve always been a good sleeper so this has scared me so much.

Username: ImmyxoImmyxo

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 44w ago

@Alyssa1995 Yes ik exactly what u mean. A lot of nights I’d only sleep for 4 - 5 hours and it was worse when I had something on the next day because it would be like ‘omg Ive barely slept this will ruin my day’

Username: Alyssa1995Alyssa1995

Date posted: 44w ago

@Immyxo It’s terrible :( would you consider yourself recovered from this fear? What are some exposures you did for it?

Username: ImmyxoImmyxo

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 44w ago

@Alyssa1995 I am recovered from it now because I learnt to accept the fear so now it only really gets triggered when I’m going on holiday or know I’m going to be jet lagged as I’ll be like ‘oh know what if I can’t sleep and it ruins the rest of my holiday’ but mostly it’s gone. I honestly think I just got habituated to it on my own when I went on a long cruise holiday and I learnt to just accept the fear. Yes I might be able to never sleep properly again which is terrifying or never be able to sleep again but trying to fight this won’t make it go away so I just accepted the discomfort. It’s difficult to accept at first but I promise it gets easier !!

Username: Alyssa1995Alyssa1995

Date posted: 44w ago

@Immyxo I can’t thank you enough for your support. I haven’t posted in this forum in a while as my OCD normally took on the Harm OCD theme and never attacked my sleep, but since I value how “good” of a sleeper I was, obviously it gave OCD some fuel. I was in recovery for almost a year and then this happened :( but it is so nice to hear that I’m not alone in this and there’s a way out as long as I stick to my ERP and acceptance. Thank you again and I hope you know just how much you’ve helped someone today ❤️

Username: ImmyxoImmyxo

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 44w ago

@Alyssa1995 No worries at all! OCD will always attack what you value the most, which is why it feels so scary. It can often happen when you’ve been recovered from OCD and you feel like you’ve done really well until another thought strikes and it feels like you’re back at square 1. But that’s just what OCD wants you to think. You’re not alone - I am also currently struggling with a scary obsession at the moment, OCD is very creative 😂 Aww I’m glad to have helped. I wish you all the best in your recovery :)❤️❤️❤️

Username: Alyssa1995Alyssa1995

Date posted: 44w ago

@Immyxo And I wish you the best in yours! You have the strength to get through this ❤️

Username: MalisimoMalisimo

Date posted: 44w ago

You can ask your dr for some Ativan also. I had to use it on and off for awhile. You will sleep guaranteed which is nice.

Username: FragileFragile

Date posted: 44w ago

Yes, I had this problem on and off, especially when I was in school. It was terrifying, sometimes i just slept 2-3 hours, even though i was 8 hours in bed. What helped me was radical expectance. Even though I could be very very tired, etc. I’ll manage and i made a “safe plan”. It took a looooong while but I can sleep sooo good now. It will get better, but I understand it is so hard. I see you and wish you all the best!!🌞

Username: Alyssa1995Alyssa1995

Date posted: 44w ago

@Fragile Thank you so much for your kind words! What kind of radical acceptance do you mean?

Username: FragileFragile

Date posted: 42w ago

@Alyssa1995 I just try to accept that I won’t get any sleep. Because if I accept it before it actually happens, it wasn’t as bad because I already planned it, yk? It is rough, i hope you’ll find some relief 🌞

Username: xfrankx

Date posted: 46w ago

I Don’t Sleep

One more question for y’all! I’m sure this is many of us, but I literally cannot sleep. If I do fall asleep, I maybe drift off for an hour or two. Then, I’m startled awake….intrusive thoughts running wild, heart racing….and then I lie awake the rest of the night. Just stuck in panic mode until the sun comes up. Then I have to start the day…already being in the rabbit hole for hours. I’ve tried every natural “remedy” nothing works. I’ve tried the pharmaceutical route…that also doesn’t work! Sleep has now become the enemy and I’d rather just stay awake all night. Does anyone have anything that helps them?? I’m desperate. The body/mind can’t heal without proper sleep. Also…and maybe folks can speak to this too. I’m back on my SSRI (3.5 weeks in) after being off for a few months (mistake). It’s torture waiting for the effects to kick in.

Username: Alyssa1995

Date posted: 40w ago

Insomnia / fear of not sleeping

Hi all ❤️ I’m dealing with some pretty severe insomnia. I’m going on day 2 of not sleeping at all because I’m just so afraid of never sleeping again. I’m having a very hard time practicing acceptance around this fear. Has anyone had insomnia of this severity before? How have you navigated it?

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 36w ago

Haven’t slept in a week

Hi I haven’t slept in a week because I’m so afraid of my thoughts and not being able to control them or work through them by ruminating. I’ve slept a few hours here and there but I wake up with this really scary fear response/adrenaline rush because i feel like I know I was thinking something really disturbing in my sleep but I wasn’t conscious enough to remember it and the adrenaline is so intense that I feel like if I can’t remember what the dreams were I don’t know what I will do. Sometimes I run to the shower and turn on the water and just rock back and forth on the floor because I’m so afraid of my thoughts. I have such a hard time letting myself relax enough to fall asleep because I can feel myself losing control over my thoughts in my half asleep state and it feels like I’m tripping or something. Does anyone else feel like this? How do you get yourself to fall asleep? Any advice? Thank you

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Sleep anxiety

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