[Invisible]

Hello, just wanted to say that I am scared of sleeping too, part of that is from childhood, I was told off if I went to sleep as things needed to be done. Another reason I am scared of sleeping is because of my PTSD and the terrible nightmares.

I often wake from a nightmare with my heart racing and hallucinations outside of the door/window scaring me even more.

Anyway one way I manage to get to sleep is to have some light in the room, make myself as comfy as possible, have a teddy bear to cuddle and also some lavender oil on my forehead and inner wrists and soles of my feet, just enough to relax me. I have also started pushing a chair up against the door the door too.

Anyway if you are scared of sleeping the trick is not too force yourself to sleep and not to give yourself a hard time when it does not happen. Something else I used to do but can't do any-more is I slept on the sofa rather then in a bed it made the pressure of sleeping a little less and I could just lie on the sofa watching television and if I slept I slept and if I didn't I didn't.

Hope you get some sleep soon.

[mias]

" was told off if I went to sleep as things needed to be done."Bless your little heart! Sorry but that sounds so harsh (and I come from a very strict background too).X

[summerdata]

fernspray, on 28 February 2012 - 05:40 PM, said:

Hi, I'm new and not sure where to post this plea. I just wondered if anyone else has a fear of going to sleep. I have an anxiety disorder and often wake up with a jolt feeling really frightened and unreal, which then causes panic attacks that can last for quite a long time and are quite distressing. Consequently I now become anxious when I need to sleep or at bed time, and feel frightened of going to sleep. Does anyone have any advice on how to overcome this please.

Personally i found therapy really helped. She taught me a simple but effective trick and it helped a lot. It's this - simply list things alphabetically in your head! can be anything names, places household items. Household items is not as easy as you think i found that most effective you're so busy concentrating on that you can't think of anything else. I know it sounds silly but it really helped me, combined with relaxation breathing techniques - i was that concerned with breathing and thinking alphabetically, i soon drifted off. best wishes lovely