Lack of sleep + anxiety = needed prayer please

[angelgirl]

Hi everyone..

I am in need of prayer tonight. I don't know if anyone will read this,
but, I am struggling with sleep issues, and anxiety.

I have struggled with sleep for years, but every once in a while, it gets
really bad, and I begin to feel sick due to lack of sleep..

When my sleep gets this bad, of course, my anxiety tends to grow, and
grow. So this is unfortunately where I am at right now, exhausted, and anxious.

Would you please say a prayer for me. I really need peaceful rest,
and also peace in my mind..

I love you all so much,,
Prayers friends,
Love,
Becky

[notsleepingwell]

Angelgirl...prayers going out for you dearheart.

[CBPete]

Hi,

Well I have read your post and my prayers are with you.

I understand your plight very well, having suffeed form the same for a long period now.

I never sleep properly, tossing and turning all night.

When I wake, normally around 3 or 4am, that's when the real anxiety kicks in. My mind speeds and I have ended up begging it to stop on occasion.

I have begun to try some simple meditation. Focusing on emtying my mind and keeping it calm until I drop off again.

Another thing I try (when the mind refuses to empty) is to think of something completely different from that which is upsetting me.

These are both very difficult but, hey, at least they will occupy you in those waking hours.

Whaty are you anxious about Becky ?? Have you spoken with anyone about this issue ?? Maybe speaking to your doctor (avoid the pills !!) might help or even a good friend.

Take a big, warm hug Becky and sleep tight within it.

Pete

[best]

Originally Posted by CBPete

I have begun to try some simple meditation. Focusing on emtying my mind and keeping it calm until I drop off again.

Another thing I try (when the mind refuses to empty) is to think of something completely different from that which is upsetting me.

These are both very difficult but, hey, at least they will occupy you in those waking hours.

What I find works better for me... rather then trying to empty my mind, I try filling it. Read, reflect, and think on scripture. If I don't fall to sleep at least I am building up my understanding of God's word in my waking hours. It always adds peace to my day when I do so.

[angelgirl]

Thanks so much nsw, and cbpete, and Best, I love you all and anyone
else who may have read and prayed. ( I love ya even if you didn' read and pray ) I must have gotten 5 1/2 solid hours of sleep. I feel better this morning, I don't feel so sick like I did all day yesterday. Thank you, and Thank you God..

Thanks for the advice also. I have had this problem for so long that I think
I have tried everything that they recommend, and I have sample of sleeping
meds that my therapist is not to happy with me that I won't take, because I slept through an appt, and she knows just how much my sleep is an issue in
my life, but I am SO afraid of those sleeping pills, that I haven't taken any, and won't..

I fell asleep with the bible next to me, and I have done that before. That's what comforts me most, is to read either the word, or one of the other books I have. I have a bunch of them.

Thanks again, I do feel better.
Prayers work
Love,
Becky

[cmc]

So many of us have had this problem- I think that finding the peace of the Lord in our lives is a solution for many anxiety/sleep issues. Going to the dr is a good idea- I do that after other things fail to work.
Peace is the opposite of anxiety and there are alot of verses about peace and even sleep. I like to do a 'word' study on these kinds of things.
Psalm 4:8 "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep:for thou, Lord, only makes me dwell in safety."
Sweet dreams!!!

[cmc]

ps.
I like the idea of filling that time with positive spiritual activity. Once when mr cmc was very ill many years ago (it was ms,but we didn't know it then!) he 'told' the devil "the more you make me sick- the more I will worship God!"
He spent a few months home on disability and during that time immersed himself in prayer and worship. He came out of that one a different man, I must say it was revolutionary how gifted he became in using the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Like Joseph said, "what you meant for evil, God has used for good."

[best]

Glad that you found some sleep.

What we both need do... remember what works and do it when sleep doesn't want to come.
I know what works...read scripture and gain peace.
I need remember and do it...go to bible.com rather then SR when I want sleep.
SR is good but scripture works for me better.

[angelgirl]

Yes I do agree Best.. When I am really stressed, and can't sleep, I used to
always spend my time here. But now, if I know I am not tired at all, I have found a couple of wonderful christian message boards that I love as well.
I have started going there if I am having a real bad night. Normally if I am feeling good, I spend my time lately between the sites..

Thank you everyone,
Love,
Becky

[Chance]

Sometimes when I lay there at night and toss and turn, I do get up and read, or sometimes I will lay there and repeat the Serenity Prayer over and over and over and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Works it really does!

[angelgirl]

Thanks Vic,

I'll try that too..

Prayers,,

Love,
Becky

[Bozo]

You know how you and I kind of have the same issues with anxiety? And not sleeping well really magnifies the anxiety the next day?

Well Im not saying this is the answer for you, but I did finally find something that works very well for me, especially falling back asleep after waking up at 2 AM to use the mens room.

First let me tell you that I did try a sleeping pill and it was friggin awful for me. I did not sleep that well and the following day I was just exhausted until noontime until that stupid sleep med wore off.

My Pdoc gave me a script for Trazodone. You can ask other posters, it has worked very well and absolutely not addicting.

I dont even need to take that much. Maybe a 1/2 or 3/4 of a 50 mg. tablet. Like Historyteach says, it doesnt put you to sleep, it "lets you get back to sleep".

Another side benefit for me is during the day if I become extremely stressed or agitated I can take about 1/4 of a pill and it totally takes the edge off the anxiety.

I also read somewhere it helps depression issues as well.

The only side effect I had was when I was trying to zero in on the correct dose for me at night. I took a 50 mg. tablet at night and felt headachey in the morning, but I am prone to headaches anyways.

So you can consider this and of course you are always in my prayers as well.

[PapaG]

I know exactly how it is. My anxiety does seem all the more prevalent when I'm having sleepless nights. I don't think there's anything wrong...just the mind's way of saying "I need rest". It will come, breathe easy if you can, reading a good book is always good, it relaxes me somewhat and I often fall asleep finding the book still in my hand come morning.

Remember: What's the very very worst that will happen...an anxiety attack? More anxious feelings..it's not dangerous, it's just uncomfortable. A positive statement I learned from Cognitive Behavioural therapy (excellent for anxiety sufferers like me and you) is this:

It's just my anxiety: It's not dangerous, it's just uncomfortable, I'm going to carry on with what I'm doing anyway.

Seems silly at first, but make statements like that to yourself over and over until they become a natural part of your thinking process. You have to get the message deep down into your brain. Write them down and stick them on the wall next to your bed. Repeat them out loud until they are "in". Then , when the anxiety is there the statement will kick in...bingo, you feel a whole lot better. Here's a few more:

1. I can be anxious and still focus on the task at hand. As I focus on the task, my anxiety will go down.

2. Anxiety is an old habit pattern that my body responds to. I am going to calmly and nicely change this old habit. I feel a little bit of peace despite my anxiety, and this peace is going to grow and grow. As my peace and security grow, then anxiety will have no choice but to shrink.

3. At first, anxiety was powerful and scary, but as time goes by, it doesn't have the hold on me that I once thought it had. I am moving forward gently and nicely.

4. I don't need to fight my feelings. I realize that these feelings won't be allowed to stay around very much longer. I just accept my new feelings of peace, contentment, and calmness.

5. All these things that are happening to me seem overwhelming. But I've caught myself this time and I refuse to focus on these things. Instead, I'm going to talk slowly to myself, focus away from my problem, and continue with what I have to do. In this way, my anxiety will have to shrink up and disappear.

[cmc]

angelgirl,
I am just checking up on you! Are you sleeping better yet?
hope so!
cmc

[best]

Originally Posted by PapaG

Seems silly at first, but make statements like that to yourself over and over until they become a natural part of your thinking process. You have to get the message deep down into your brain. Write them down and stick them on the wall next to your bed. Repeat them out loud until they are "in". Then , when the anxiety is there the statement will kick in...bingo, you feel a whole lot better.

Your post reminds me of some scripture.

Deuteronomy 6
Love the LORD Your God

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Proverbs 3:3
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Proverbs 7:3
Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.