Lack of sleep is making me anxious and very nervous

I am totally exhausted I cannot seem to get more then two hours of sleep at night. Most of the night I sit up in my rocker and I try to doze off there but I cannot. So I do some knitting. What else can you do at 1am? I am at my wits end the doctors know I cannot sleep but they wont give me anything. It just seems like I am so wound up at night. I wish I knew how to stop it but I cannot. I need my sleep cause if I dont get it my entire body is a mess. Like I have trouble with walking because I am so tired. I dont know why this happens but it is a big pain in the rear. How does anyone here cope when they lack sleep?

Have you tried any over the counter sleep pills such as melatonin..

Try changing the lights bulbs from Bright-daylight to Warm-white. This also helps a lot.

For sleep I used to use ear plugs. Just total silence and all you can hear is your breathing. I found it soothing and I'd fall asleep pretty quick, and stay asleep. Combined with near total darkness as well. Good.

It seems weird that your doctors won't give you anything. Do you know why? Either way, I'm sorry

Once my mom suggested that keeping a dried plant of evening nightshade under your pillow gives good sleep.

Hi and yes I did try melation it did not work for me nothing does.

I guess they think I am on enough meds.I managed to get about an hour and a half nap this morning.Still very tired though

thank you

Read the side effects of each medication that you are currently taking. Look for "insomnia" as a side effect or "trouble sleeping." Many antidepressants, opioids, even sleeping pills or vitamins contain caffeine or another element that disrupts the human body's natural melatonin and cortisol which is used to make us sleepy.

My guess is, that your current meds mixed together, are causing you this insomnia. Even if you've been on them for years, the combination of certain medications will decrease a person's ability to sleep because of what those medications do to the body.

I think that allergy pills can make you anxious and awake I could be wrong I cannot say for sure.My allergies are so bad right now,it is like my mind is being overworked.when I try to sleep I mean two hours a night is just not going to cut it.

As usual I got only 2 hours of sleep last night.I know the storm freaked me out.

you poor thing. i can so relate. i have been having insomnia too lately and feel unusually anxious. i didn't want to use melatonin as it is a hormone. i tried this herbal remedy from the health food store that was made from skullcaps. (that is a plant) that gives a very restful sleep but the night before i was especially anxious so one dose did not work. the directions said you can take up to 4 doses at a time but i was scared to do that. so i also tried acupressure. there are points on your wrists you can press to release your body's melatonin. there are many videos on youtube on how to do it. here is one YouTube
but that does not always work for me. i am now trying exercise. i have 2 and 3 lb hand weights and i just lift them a minute or so throughout the day. read that can help as well as exercising in the morning. (i just googled natural remedies for insomnia)

i hope something will work for you. having that little sleep is very dangerous.

I'm sorry xmascarol. If the lack of sleep is a regular thing, you may want to see a doctor.

As far as natural remedies, there is melatonin and I believe Valerian root works as well. I tried melatonin, and it didn't really work for me. I haven't tried valerian.

Well I finally got a full night sleep I went to bed at 8:30 and when I woke up it was 6.I didnt do anything different.

Hey that's great to hear. Hopefully now you'll be back on a regular sleep schedule.

I have told both of ,my doctors I cant sleep and neither one of them just said oh you cant . They wont do a darn thing,it gets to be so frustrating,

To my surprise I fell asleep about 11:30 last night when I woke up it was after 7;30 this morning ,I hope I can sleep tonight.

See when I dont sleep I not only get anxious but depressed as well I become very shaky and I feel like I am going to fall.I had run into things before.

In my mind two hours sleep is an emergency situation - either the doctor has to give me pills or I need to catch up during the daytime.

It's important (again just my experience) to deliberately spend time winding down mentally even if I can't sleep. Because my insomnia is a learned pattern and I constantly have to remind my body how to sleep regularly.

Stuff that I use to wind down is gentle exercise and gentle music, just lying in warm comfortable place, relaxing my eyes - and finding ways to relax the controlling part of my mind. Taking time away from thinking type activities at least one hour before bedtime.

I feel concerned for you. What people have written about medication mix and side effects makes sense, but then shouldn't your doctor review the medication mix.

Is there anything that helps for you, or that you notice in your environment that might help if you did more of it? For example when I was working long hours with no sleep, I walked by a meditation class and something inside me knew that I needed to do it, despite my difficulty in relaxing my mind. That's 18 years ago and despite initial difficulty I'm still benefitting from that class.

Reflecting more, I would enourage you to observe what works for you personally. Problems letting go enough to sleep are a very personal thing, on the level of deep intimacy. The trick for me has been observing what works and doing more of it - whether it's being more patient with myself, more assertive with my doctor, or more committed to a good sleep routine.

Big hugs!