Can't sleep because of anxiety

You could try exercising a bit before bed or some mediation if you're into that. If you're desperate, you could always speak to your MD about a mild sleep aid to get you over this hump.

Maybe easier said than done but try not to worry about what may be. Tell yourself you'll deal with it when the time comes.

I've found that listening to Autogenic Relaxation videos put me right to sleep. Not their intended purpose but what the hey, eh?

 

If you're anxious about things to come, then try everything to live in the present. I find it useful to be very strict with my brain! If the mind starts wondering I think 'No, stop. I'll deal with that if/when it happens... and, somehow, I'll smash it'. Be strict with yourself. Have a nice bath, put some music on. Do anything to make the bedroom comforting and your safe place. Tell yourself that space is yours and no negative thoughts are aloud in there. If I'm having a particularly bad day then I read until I drift off or listen to the tv with the volume very low to distract myself.

 

I know how you feel. For a period in my life in the past, I had a terrible time sleeping too. Anyhow, I'll give you a few fairly practical, all-rounded ideas that might help, though if the sleeping thing gets more serious maybe consider talking to a trusted counsellor or therapist (one who won't judge you and will keep everything strictly confidential.) I understand your fears and anxieties though, and I wish you best of luck.

Try chamomile tea, chamomile has been shown again and again to help with anxiety, though you'll need to drink it in the long term. There are quite a few natural supplements and teas out there that can help too, but chamomile is one that I usually turn to. Exercise and a good diet, light dinner before bed will help - if your body is in a better place it may be easier to fall asleep. There are some phone apps out there that help with anxiety- eg CBT or mindfulness apps that might be useful. Basic deep breathing is, well, very basic, but when you're lying down, breathing in slowly through your nose for around 4 seconds, holding your breath for a few seconds, then breathing out slowly again through your mouth, helps calm your body down. Pause for a few seconds in between. If you have time, doing some short, guided meditation or yoga could help as well though I've never tried them myself.

Besides the more generic things, dealing with what in particular is causing you anxiety can help too. If you're worried about your sexuality and what might happen, working on accepting yourself and finding a safe, supportive space (like on here), as well as working on becoming more positive and confident with your identity can tackle the actual source of anxiety. Coming out is hard, and worrying about it is difficult too. If it's possible, see if you can find sources of support around where you are now too, and LGBT+ resources (such as local support centres, hotlines), that are available to you just in case. If you have any particular worries about coming out or accepting your sexuality, you can always post on here. Best of luck and hope it works out.

 

Hello there! I actually used to struggle A LOT with being too anxious at night to sleep. I can vividly remember hot summer nights laying in my bed with fear of something medically going wrong with me. (Used to be a HUGE hypochondriac.) So what I did to help alleviate some of that stress was listen to music. My go to music at the time was country music. The channel GAC plays different music videos in a loop at a certain point at night. So I started to just focus on the music and be in the present moment. I feel like music does a good job of doing that when you really enjoy what you are hearing. By all means you don't have to listen to country lol. But I think it would be helpful to find maybe an artist or two and listen to them at night time. Mariah Carey has pretty great songs I can relate to so it is just about finding someone that kind of speaks to you on a soul level. Hopefully this helps you out keep me posted! If that doesn't work I will be happy to brain storm some stuff with you! I have battled anxiety for a while now so I know what it is like and how lonely it can feel just dealing with it on your own. So if you ever wanted to talk or something I am all ears!

 

Have you tried medication? I know it's probably not what you want to hear, but trust me, it truly helps. Make sure you take one that doesn't have a side effect of depression. I take paroxetine (Paxil) and it works like a charm. Hope you can work it all out!