I didn't know where to post this but I wanted to touch on the subject of sleep. One thing I noticed about the MWC program is that it doesn't really discuss much about the importance of sleep during times of high stress and anxiety and what it part it plays in recovery.

Most people suffering with anxiety disorders, push themselves SO hard and it's the high stress they've been living under for so long that brings them into an anxiety disorder in the first place. Most people with anxiety stay up late and are night owls and don't ever get the sleep they need every night. They stay up late, night after night, waking early to take on their duties for the day, adding more and more to the pile of "got to be done" file.

I know Lucinda says that your body will sleep when it's tired and I agree. And this is important to tell those that are afraid they won't ever sleep and have this phobia...on the other hand, what about those people who are tired and fatigued and don't listen to their bodies and force themselves to go to sleep ??
What are their chances for a healthy recovery?

Personally I feel that this topic isn't discussed enough, especially in Lesson 14 ( How to keep stress from becoming anxiety)....

The reason I am bringing it up is because I don't sleep enough. I still have a bad habit of going to bed late and getting up early. How can I possibly think I can juggle caring for 4 children ( 3 of my own), cleaning house, running errands, caring for my husband and still finding time for myself WITHOUT enough sleep???

One thing I noticed about myself as I look back on my life when my husband went away to S.Korea for a year in the military was that although I was stressed at times, I was still able clearheaded and not overwhelmed. I took care of my 3 children myself and yes it was stressful but I kept that stress in balance by going to bed at night much earlier than I normally do. I was in bed by 10:30pm and up at 7:30am. I believe this was the major thing I did back then that kept me "balanced" emotionally and physically.

For the past 4 days, I've been feeling overwhelmed. I realized that my sleep is not at all what it should be and although I've been able to face my anxiety and use the skills successfully, I am more at risk of allowing my mind to believe those old lies again....

So, I am making it a point to get myself to bed earlier and not feel guilt over it.

Sunset,
Good to see you are still on the forum.....haven't been here in a while!

Just wanted to say that the following supplements have helped me in the past:
Kava kava, Valerian, and 5HTP. I also use Aconitum (Aconite) a homeopathic rememdy if I wake up in the middle of the night with adrenaline spurts. My daughter found help with Melatonin.

I feel that putting preparation into a peaceful nights sleep pays off. I try to avoid tv, and I pray "big deep prayers," or write out my prayers in my journal. Then I read something by Norman Vincent Peale and shut my eyes, praying for God's care through the night.

blessings,
Tricia

Thanks Tricia for adding to this post.

I want to be sure that you know that I am not having difficulty sleeping, just difficulty in getting myself to bed earlier.

This topic is about the necessity of sleep and the role it plays in recovery.

I am a "power chic" and I will stay up all hours of the night to finish doing things that I want to do even when my body is tired.

It's the problem of not listening to the body.

Gotcha! I like that quiet time after the kids are asleep too! Used to read too late into the morning hours at times (lol)
hugs,
Tricia

Tricia,
Glad you can relate!

I do take GABA occasionally when overstressed and sometimes L-Theanine. Both of them help too...

I also liked to write down my prayers in my journal. I found many times that it felt like I was writing God letters.

How many hours on average do you sleep every night now that you are taking better care of yourself? How much were you sleeping when you were at your worst?

Sunset,
I was reading about GABA in another of your posts....I'm going to check that out further....sounds VERY interesting.

With exception to my "cycle" times, I sleep pretty regularly. I would say I probably go to bed on average at about 10:30 and sleep till 7:30. So that's nine hours! I never stopped to think about it before (lol)

I once read a book about Indian medicine (Ayurveda - I KNOW I'm spelling this wrong) that made a great case about melatonin being at it's highest levels between 9:30 and 10:30 at night. That made sense to me, so I try to wind myself down at the 9:30 hour, lower the lights, and read, pray, etc.

When I am at my worst? Well, that would be right before my cycle and right afterwards. I seem to wake up at those times and be more prone to obsessive thoughts. But they don't bother me like they did pre-program. I have learned to talk back to them and roll over and go to sleep. I used to sit there and "go with the thoughts," and then I would be wide awake. So now it's just a matter of disrupted sleep.

Also, when I take on too much my mind needs more time to think/journal/pray before bed because I have to get the thoughts out of my head before I can sleep.

I agree with your point that sound, restful sleep helps with our defenses for fighting anxiety!

Blessings,
Psalm91
Tricia

Tricia,
10:30 huh? Makes sense to me! When I went to bed at that time, I was able to endure more daily stress than I do when I go to bed at 12am or 1am.

I have been very fatigued lately because I have been overworked. I have also found that too much stress causes me to be in "overdrive" and sleeping is disrupted and I toss and turn during times like this. I wonder...when a person is overtired, why they catch a "second wind" if they don't go to bed when they should ? ....

Anyways...thanks for sharing your insight here.

I also don't sleep well before my cycle. I usually find that I get insomnia a couple days before. I wonder why that is....

I agree that sleep isn't discussed enough in the program. I called the Midwest Center to ask for literature about sleep, or lack of it, and someone sent me several magazine articles concerning sleep. It has been so helpful and I truly appreciate it. I have learned that having regular go to bed, wake up times is crucial to keeping me balanced. Some people can take naps or sleep in on the weekends, but I'm not one of those people.

quote:

Some people can take naps or sleep in on the weekends, but I'm not one of those people.

Annie, I can't either! A nap for me would be a 3 minute nod during a TV program. I have tried to sleep in on the weekends and I can't do that either. I end up tossing and turning and then wrecking my day because I didn't get up when I first woke up. Probably because I feel like I wasted my morning.

I'm sooooo sleepy right now!

I also get extra tired when I write or read sooooo I�m even more sleepy when I�m here, plus there is more I stay up toooooo late just reading my lessons and praying etc.

Add to this sometimes my troubled son does something like staying out all night!!!! So needless to say I can't sleep if I'm worrying about his safety....

If you think I can't top all this I have a three-year-old that has some kind of sleep issue....

She wakes up three or more times a night!!!!! The doctors so far haven't helped much. My husband and I are looking into different remedies, however we have to be careful what we use on her. She doesn�t appear to be hyper during the day.

Needless to say if she would sleep we might toooo GOD knows we all need our rest

. I want to get better and I know a better nights sleep would really help

.SOOOOO AGAIN I will ask for any tips or feedback on this matter, were trying almost anything...

GOD BLESS all of us!!! And "GOOD NITE JOHN BOY "