Sleeping issues

I have a really rough time getting to sleep.  I spend about an hour or more just contemplating everything in my life before I'm able to get to sleep.  I worry about things before
I go to sleep and I'm constantly aware of my breathing and heart rate.  I have these moments where everything feels weird and like I'm detached from reality.  I know it's just anxiety but it really freaks me out...Derealization problems usually persist when I've had a stressfull day and typically last until I lay down.

[nursegirl6572]

Sometimes, it's when we lie down to rest that our brains start working overtime.  It's very annoying.  Something that always worked well for me was distractions...specifically putting on a funny movie,or brainless lighthearted TV show. Obviously, it's best to steer clear of any dramas/horrors, etc.  Or, you could try some soothing music...try to do some visualization where you picture a soothing scene or picture yourself somewhere serene.

To this day, I still fall asleep while watching TV....it works pretty well.

Hang in there...I know these things are rough!

[Kaneda2112]

If you consistently have issues falling asleep, you should probably have a chat with your physician about it. Together you can decide on a strategy to try to get this solved - either talk therapy to help you devise mental strategies and processes to bring you calm or other avenues such as meds.

There's a wide variety of meds that can help you get to sleep - from something non-prescription like a couple of gravol to more heavy duty meds like Ativan or Xanax.

I've also read other suggestions on MSN - health.msn.com/health-topics/sleep-disorders/6-remedies-for-sleep-problems which might have some other ideas for you to try.

[mammo]

Sleep does elude those of us who suffer with anxiety.  Falling asleep is the hardest part for me.  So, I fall asleep while watching TV, reading a good book or magazine.  Just lying there gives us too much time to think...so distracting your thoughts is key. I also make sure I'm tired before going to bed. Try this and see if it helps!

[lynn57]

I also get to the point of sleep while watching t.v. and then drag myself to bed.  If I'm not totally tired I will toss and turn.  Some advice on insomnia involves not watching t.v. right before bed because it is too stimulating.  For people with anxiety this just isn't the case.  It gives our minds something to do while the rest of our system shuts down for the night.