I’m just getting so frustrated!

[valleymist]

This isn't the first time I posted a topic similar to this. I'm having a real
problem with falling asleep lately and what makes it so frustrating is that
I actually am sleepy and I actually DO fall asleep BUT I wake up almost a
minute after I doze off. It happens more than a dozen times before I
actually really sleep. Then repeats itself around 4-5am.

Everytime I doze off, my throat feels like it's tightening on me, my
stomach feels funny and I always feel like I'm going to be sick. It goes
away quickly, then when I try to sleep again, it happens. This has been
going on for almost two years! It seems to have gone through stages
though.

It all started with an ear infection, viral labrynthitis (sp?). I was
experiencing a lot of nausea which naturally made me panic a lot. I used
to wake up at night with extreme nausea and then that reflex mentioned
earlier. The ear infection cleared up and since then, that reflex seems to
be a new learned habit of 'dealing' with my phobia and now I can't get rid
of it!

What do I do? It's frustrating and I want more than anything right now to
just go to sleep! I wish I would have spoken to my doctor about this
before he discontinued his practice. I've been drinking peppermint tea so
the nausea is not as bad as it used to be but that reflex keeps me up all
night. [img]smileys/smilies_06.gif[/img]

[crimgoddess]

Well, on the bright side, if it's learned, it can be unlearned.


Have you tried different sleeping positions? Sleeping more upright maybe? I know for myself as well, if I'm having problems sleeping, or keep waking up I plug in a scent that is comforting to me (Vanilla Glade Plug-in) and open the window. For some reason, the cold air helps me sleep, and I am more comfortable with burrowing under the covers.


It seems to me like you are scared of falling asleep because you think you will be ill. It started during a time where it may have been a legitimate fear (because you were sick at the time), but now that you are well, you still have that lingering fear (which is now unjustified). If your family doctor discontinued his practice- is there another doctor you can speak with? If I were you, I would maybe look to speak with a psychiatrist/psychologist, because this seems to be rooted more in your head than in your body.


Good luck....I have sleeping problems myself (can only really sleep in 2-3 hr blocks- and they usually don't start until 4 or 5am), so I know how completely frustrated it can be to not be able to sleep!


*amber*

[tcsarah]

I too have problems sleeping, it drives me mad some nights. There are a few good sites out there with info on sleeping disorders and handy advice, such as this one: http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/.../insomnia.html and this one: http://www.sleepnet.com/


I too think you should see a doctor as this problem is causing you so much anxiety and sleep disturbance.S/he may refer you to a therapist to try and get to the root cause of your sleep disorder and re-programme your mind into not jolting you awake all the time.


Please let us know how you get on!

[andee]

That's really hard, but it does sound like you are associating sleeping and feeling ill. I used to do that, or fall asleep and wake up panicked with n**. I listen to relaxing music before I fall asleep. Some "new age" music is nice, like Chinese or nature sounds. Also imagery, imagine yourself in a beautiful place of your choosing. Keep repeating how relaxing and comfortable it will be when you fall asleep, etc. Catch this now before it becomes embedded in you. Good luck!!

[valleymist]

Thank you for your suggestions, I will give them a try. The following is
what I have already tried but it's either temporary or just doesn't work at
all:

* gravol - it used to make me sleep so deep that the reflex wasn't enough
to wake me up.
* sleeping on my back - I just can't anymore, I stop breathing and I wake
up for a moment feeling paralyzed, it's hard to explain. Sleeping on my
stomach hurts.
* sleeping with a flat pillow, big pillow, sitting upright (yes, I was so tired I
could sleep upright) and no pillow at all - none of it worked!
* sleeping with the radio on - works for a little bit but doesn't prevent me
from waking up again
* sleeping with a hot water bottle and water on my nightstand - I still do
this, calms my nerves a bit, but the reflex is still there
* I've tried repeatedly telling myself I'm not going to wake up feeling this
way, worked for a whole week then came back
* drinking peppermint or chamomile tea right before bed - waking up
with a full bladder seems to make the nausea five times worse and the
reflex doesn't go away, just relaxes me a bit
* I've tried both, eating before I went to sleep, then not eating for up to
four hours before I go to sleep, neither did anything for me but the latter
helps
* taking a hot bath before bed - extremely relaxing and no trouble falling
asleep, but I still wake up repeatedly with the nearly v*ing reflex

So as you can see from my above list, I've tried many things which is why
I am becoming more and more concerned about this. I take it that the
reflex hasn't been embedded in me yet because some of the above
worked for only one week. Is this weird or what? I wish I never had that
ear infection which started this whole disaster in the first place, this lack
of sleep or interupted sleep is really affecting me in the day time.

[purpleteacher]

I do this all the time. I doze off, then wake up. The only thing I have found that works is to stay up until the reflux has calmed down enough and then sleep at an angle. I cannot sleep flat or my stomach just *has too much fun in my esphogus* and I am miserable all night long.

[valleymist]

^ really? I find myself sleeping on a weird angle too . . . strange huh? I hate it
though and on the days where my phobia has reached it's peak (someone
got sick or I think I came into contact with something) I pretty much just
have to give up trying at all and force myself to stay awake. How bad is that?
Forcing yourself to stay awake when you're THAT tired because it's too
frustrating to have constant interupted sleep because of a stupid reflex that
makes you feel like you're going to be sick and you have to swallow
profusely and drink water and do this over and over again.

[purpleteacher]

^ really? I find myself sleeping on a weird angle too . . . strange huh? I hate it
though and on the days where my phobia has reached it's peak (someone
got sick or I think I came into contact with something) I pretty much just
have to give up trying at all and force myself to stay awake. How bad is that?
Forcing yourself to stay awake when you're THAT tired because it's too
frustrating to have constant interupted sleep because of a stupid reflex that
makes you feel like you're going to be sick and you have to swallow
profusely and drink water and do this over and over again.

I get so scared, I can't drink water! I am afraid that the water will make me gag and then I'll V*, which leads to severe dehydration for me... argh... viscious cycle.


Oh yes though, I have spent many nights staying up late just so I could be awake when "it" happens - even though "it" never did. I also find myself staying awake and wishing for daytime to happen. It is like I forget how tired I will be if I don't sleep, but I know I feel safer in the daytime than I do at night.

[valleymist]

wow, I feel like I'm having a conversation with myself here, you sound just
like me at night, minus the drinking water. I drink it almost as much as I
swallow after the reflex. It gives me this false sense of washing back the
feeling and thinking it will prevent me from getting sick.

It's night time right now, and I'm wishing for daylight. It's so true, I feel so
much safer. I know I'm going to be tired, but it scares me when I go to sleep
and I just can't seem to control the feeling.

[valleymist]

Just letting you know I'm starting a sleep diary provided by this website:

http://www.sleepeducation.com/Disorder.aspx?id=17

I'm actually starting to suspect what is called sleep starts or hypnagogic
jerks. Quoting from the above website; "They are sudden, brief and
strong contractions of the body or one or more body segments. They
occur as you are falling asleep. Sleep starts usually consist of one strong
jerk that affects much of the body."

and another quote; "At times, many jerks may occur one after another.
They can be frequent, intense, and repetitive. Intense or frequent sleep
starts may lead to a fear of falling asleep. This can also lead to anxiety
and worry. Sleep loss may result if repeated jerks keep you awake.
Anxiety caused by the sleep starts can also make it hard to fall asleep.
Chronic insomnia can result if this problem continues over time."

It sounds so similar to my problem so I've decided to use their sleep diary
for two weeks. After that, I'm not sure what I should do as I have no
doctor. There is a shortage it seems where I live. No one is taking
anybody new.

It's really starting to affect my sleep, I mean, I actually fell asleep in Law
class today. [img]smileys/smilies_09.gif[/img]

[65roses]

For reflux, don't stack pillows, but rather put cinder blocks under the head of your bed. If you just raise your head, you get a kink in your body that forces acid up, if you remain straight and raise the head, it will prevent acid from coming up.


When you do wake up, get up and move, don't reward yourself by staying in bed.


You may want to talk to your doctor about it, there is nothing wrong with a little sleeping med just temporarily to break the cycle.