Not sure if this is health ocd or not

Hello everyone! Lately I’ve been having a really hard time sleeping. I’ve struggled with insomnia for a long time now, but this time seems to be different. For context: I used to have super bad relationship ocd and real events ocd. Now it seems like i have neither and sometimes feels like I don’t even have ocd at all. Well then randomly I started jolting up in my sleep and feeling like I randomly stopped breathing or I’m not getting enough oxygen to my brain. It’s this super weird sensation and it feels completely involuntary and I start to panic and sit up from my bed. I’ve gone to the ER, urgent care, and several other dr appointments and every doctor has said it’s for sure not sleep apnea because I’m not overweight and don’t have a large neck…lol However, they did give me a referral to the sleep clinic. So I will be doing that in two weeks. But while this has all been happening (almost a month now) I’ve also been having tons of anxiety, (mainly about not sleeping and other things in my life). I just got married and was supposed to be on my honeymoon right now, but couldn’t bc of my sleep/anxiety. During all my doctor visits, they said everything looked normal. EKG, head scan, chest xray, oxygen levels, and blood test. I was experiencing really bad acid reflux and they prescribed me something and it’s been helping so much, which maybe contributed to me feeling like I can’t breathe. I also just went back on lexapro but I know the symptoms to come. I feel like I’ve just been constantly finding what’s wrong with me lately, whether it’s mental or physical symptoms. I’m convinced I have orthopnea. But I’m so anxious about it (I sleep usually 3-4 hours max a night). Does this sound like health ocd to you? I recently found out my insurance will end soon so maybe that subconsciously did something to me. I have no idea what to do but now I’m terrified of sleeping. I also have a pulmonary respiratory test soon, to cancel out if I randomly got asthma again.

Anonymous

Date posted: 16h

It’s good that you’re going to the sleep clinic. Being overweight or having a large neck can increase the risk of sleep apnea, but not having those features does not completely rule it out, so I’m surprised they described it as impossible based only on that.

oliviabroewn

Date posted: 16h

@Anonymous That’s what I was thinking too because I had sleep apnea when I was 7 and I was not overweight. It was because my tonsils were too big.

Healthy126!

Date posted: 16h

Your body is in so much stress you’re having anxiety that’s what wakes you up! Have some water next to you at night take a sip and you’ll feel better. Also take melatonin or valerian drops to help you sleep longer since less sleep makes anxiety and ocd worse. At this point you might be experiencing health anxiety but I bet getting more rest will help everything. Good luck!

Songtothesiren

Date posted: 16h

@Healthy126! Thank you!!! I’ve never heard of valerian drops, I’ll look into that! I just realized it could also be somatic ocd too!

oliviabroewn

Date posted: 15h

I get how this feels. I spent a long time trying to figure out if my stomach issues were just anxiety or something was truly wrong with me. I would say this is OCD the way it’s affecting your life and the way you are scared of sleeping. Anxiety could most likely be the cause with most other things ruled out. I think treating the anxiety would be really helpful seeing as it affects the sleep more. It’s a cycle kind of. Waking up randomly—> anxiety —> no sleep —> more anxiety, looped. And the thing someone said with taking melatonin and stuff will likely help.

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