Hi all:

When I am really tired and try to sleep, I get random thoughts. They pull me right out of sleep and it feels like a wave going through me. I then get the sweats and chills. I believe this may be anxiety as well. I am just wondering because I haven't heard it talked about yet. What is odd is, when I was fighting my anxiety, it wasn't so bad. Now that I am learning to accept it, it seems to have gotten worse. Will it get better with time? Any advise on how to deal with it so I can sleep darnit.

Thanks guys. You are the best. Have a great day!!!

Hi....I have the same issue with the sleep...Which is soooooo hard cause it tends to make me have a bad day...But after listening to tape 3 I am gonna work on positive self talk about the sleep issue...I just know that it is a lot better than it was in the beginning and I will get better and so will you...I totally understand but lack of sleep never killed anybody and if anything we are gonna be able to help someone else with the same issue when we recover...Best of luck to you and I will be thinking about you...Sandy

My problem is that I can't wait to end the day by going to sleep. I find that the anxiety I've been feeling all day gets worse as my head hits the pillow. I take Oxazepam for the anxiety but don't get results unless I take 2, which is more than has been prescribed. I take one with 2 Ambien CR at bedtime and find that they help me to get to sleep eventually. I am usually able to get a good night's sleep but now I find that I don't want to get up in the morning and when I finally get up I feel groggy all day. I haven't yet gotten to session 3 as I am still working on the 1st one. Maybe it will help the both of us.

Same problem with anxiety the greatest when trying to go to sleep. Have been on Klonopin for years, which is not working as well, and now Ambien. Just can't seem to shut my mind down at night. I wish I had never started Klonopin - it can be very hard to come off. Don't like ambien generally either. Waiting for session 3. I have tried positive self talk before, and it really helps. Didn't do the course properly the first time. Learned to stick with it this time. Will have to overcome some religious misconceptions. Anyway, wishing everyone a good night's rest.

to finding happiness - make sure you're exercising everyday at least 45 minutes if you can. Don't skip. It can help.

I have recently discovered guided stress relief/meditation cds....if you listen to them before bed you may even fall asleep before the session is done....i've been doing that every night for the past week now and I never make it through the entire session! lol! they're fantastic!

"To sleep, per chance to dream..." This has been my struggle for years as well. It seems that as soon as you go to bed and the chaos of the day ends, my mind uses the quiet to replay the days events and to plan for the next day. It is tough to get to sleep a lot of nights, but it can be done. I had tried about every remedy known to man: exercise, warm milk, meditation, non-prescription and prescription sleep medications. I seem to have learned more about what not to do then what to do to get to sleep. I know exercise is good but don't do it too close to bed time as your heart rate will be up and it will just make it worse.You need to go to bed routinely at the same time (even if not tired) and to develop a pre bed time ritual (what ever works for you) to let your mind know it is time to shut down. You need to segregate your bed from all non-sleep activities so you know when you are in bed it is to sleep. If you don't drop off within the firt hour you need to get up and go read or do something to distract/clear your mind and then try to lay back down a half hour later. Good luck with it and I would recommend trying to not use medication as it just brings in a whole boatload of other issues with dependency. Besides the best nights sleep is a natural one.

I've noticed since starting this program that going to sleep has been difficult. I've always had this problem, but over the last week or so I've really struggled with keeping my mind quiet & thus the anxiety away.

I'm not sure how to address it, but I know in time I will find my answer. I think at the end of the day it's all about conditioning ones self, I need to re-teach myself how to think & feel when I go to bed & to not be affraid of it b/c that's what triggers it everytime. Self talk has helped a lot, I may not fall into a deep sleep but I am eventually able to get myself calm enough that I can rest, it just takes awhile.

I've heard time & time again to have your bed as a place ONLY for sleep. I use it to watch tv, read books, listen to my tapes & just about anything that requires some peace & quiet ~ I'm not sure if changing that will help but I guess it's worth a try!

Good luck you guys, we WILL over come this!

I go with the flow if I cant sleep I watch TV or try to keep busy. Since this atacks starts I suffer the same, but I try do not use medications because sometime is worst for another organs like kidneys, etc. One day I took Lexapro and I felt like dying. My body start burn,shake, etc. I went to Nature Doctor and he gave me all natural medications. With this medications and the program I feel much better Ive been learn to control myself, understand my problem, accept and think this will pass. Its not big deal. Thank Lussinda for your help.

Listened to Carolyn on a tape about using the 6 steps for generalized anxiety too. This is my problem when trying to go to sleep. Decided not to use Ambien, etc., even though I woke up before 1 a.m. I always try to listen to the relaxation tape before going to bed, but now added the 6 steps whenever I wake up. It works! Was able to get a good night's rest on both nights I did this. This morning I didn't even have a backache when I got up refreshed. Remarkable! Thanks Carolyn and Lucinda.

hi, for me i have the same problem and what has work for me its not to think about that distract my self and have a good attitude, that has work better for me and also take melatonin before bed because i also try about everything and what work best for me its acept the fact that i didnt sleep well and not think about that i hope you rest tonight.

Gah, I have this problem, too.

Unfortunately, the only thing that works for me is to be so exhausted I can't stay awake. I have a really, really hard time controlling my thoughts when I'm trying to relax.

The other night I had a very hard time getting rid of the thoughts of the day and of the past and of the future. I practiced breathing and it help because i woke up and didn't remember falling asleep. The relaxation that we practice does come in handy when the thoughts come piling on top of you.