Anyone epxerience insomnia related to the anxiety? I find it hard to fall asleep at night unless I exhaust myself during the day. Once I fall asleep I always end up waking in early morning hours, 3am, 4am, and not being able to fall back asleep due to racing heart/barrage of thoughts (basically the anxiety).

I've had problems with insomnia for years, and I now know that it is related to anxiety.

Since I went through the first part of the program last fall, I have been sleeping like a baby (about 9 hours per night). I can tell when something is bothering me because I start having "anxiety dreams" again.

Hopefully this program will help your sleeping habits as much as it has mine.

I have suffered from insomnia for quite a few years. I also have a very hard time falling asleep and when I do I wake up as you do in the wee hours of the morning. This is my 5th day of the program and I hope there is alight at the end of the tunnel.

yes i have been getting insomnia lately and find myself taking .25 of Ativan every night. i want to stop taking the ativan . i am on session 3 but right now i am listening to 1,2 and 3 . i have been on session 3 more than a week and have been not focusing on it lately (my hormones are making me way more bad just when i thought i got a hold on things) so now i am forcing myself to do this.

I am so TIRED of the insomnia....no pun intended!! I have been struggling intensely with this for about 3 years and much worse this past year. I am desperate for sleep. Some of the worst attacks and anxiety I have is in the night. I have recently tried lunesta and rozarum. I was awake with both of them and felt groggy in the am with the lunesta. Something that seems to help a bit is the Bach rescue remedies for sleep.
I fall asleep fine and then wake up 2, 3, 4 sometimes with a major attack racing heart, feel like I am going to pass out and terrified I am dying and I am alone and that intensifies the fear. I even go to the point where I start thinking what if I couldn't get up (because I always feel this intense weekness) and had to call 911 they couldn't get in and no one has a key!! Oh my goodness!LOL. then of course I get even more afraid. My sleep is so interrupted and it makes my days and working really tough. I am encouraged by Unicorn1524.....that is amazing 9 hours......I am salivating!!! 9 hours.....I can't remember what that was like. I used to sleep like a rock! I hope it will return. I just started CD 1 today.

Blessings,
K

Insomnia...yeah, had it since ... I think since I was 15. I am 44 now. It got worse after parents divorced, then really bad after mom married an ex-con who killed himself 11 months later...never got better after that. I have learned some techniques that tend to help, but are not always effective. I have a nightly routine...I ALWAYS read something, even if it is only a paragraph. I accept the fact i simply take a long time to wind down compared to others, and that is okay. I can accept mySelf. My Self. What I need. Well, at least I can when the kids don't need something. Then again, do they really need it...right NOW? Or do I just need to develop a more disciplined home?

I used to not believe caffeine bothered me and I drank a Coke at night, RIGHT BEFORE BED, can you believe that!? But I was on caffeine all the time, so I couldn't tell a difference. I was always "high"! Now that I am off caffeine for the most part, I definitely see/feel/experience a difference when I have it after noontime. Today, I had two gas station starbucks frappucinnos on the way to work. I had heart palpitations today for the first time in at least 8 years. I didn't think there was that much caffeine in one of those. I guess I was wrong.

Another thing is I learned from a doctor who specializes in stress, hormones and allergies that a nice stroll in the evening, not an aerobic walk, but an intentional leisurely stroll will actually relax one, burn off adrenalin. He is right. especially at about 20 minutes I feel a difference. I don't know why 20 minutes seems to be the magic medical exercise number, but it is. I learned it by testing it out. Ten minutes was...okay. 20 I begin to feel the relaxation kick in.

The relaxation CD in the program felt really cheesy at first...i laughed at myself, felt stupid. But...it works!!! It just takes time. My shrink says relaxing is something we must practice to get better at, like paying the piano. Over the last year and a half, I have learned he is right, he and all the counselors I've had. Relaxation is a learned skill. I never learned it, not really.

My nightmares are gone! The insomnia is yet to be conquered, but I am encouraged. Hope the experiences are helpful. Believe your advisors. It might feel stupid, bedtime rituals and stuff, but it does help...over time.

I too deal with insomnia. Same as Anthony, however, with relaxation cd and just deep breathing I am able to relax and fall asleep.

Also, find that having a few simple goals each day, like eating well and doing some sort of physical activity, makes me feel like I have some control over the world around me. Often anxiety comes from inner drive and an insecurity about what we are doing with ourselves. Most often for me its rooted in things beyond my control.

Anyhow, don't mean to rant, but really feel good about this program 1 week in. Heard so much stuff in the intro that hit home on a variety of levels. It has been humbling and humorous. Can't help but feel God has brought me to this point and that the future will get better.

I am 38 now and used to be 100 mile an hour guy, sounds like Anthony you need to step back a bit and be 23. Enjoy it. Enjoy your relationship. Take the approach that so long as each of you gets better, whether its meant to be or not, at the end you will be in a better position.

Hope this comes across right.

Dominic, I didnt say thanks, so, thanks. Sleep has been better. 100mph I know what you mean, if Im not going going going, I dont know what to do. Just gotta relax.