[ShyTiger]

You went on the jerry springer show!!! Thats amazing to me. Sounds very much like a panic attacks and poss panic disorder. When we first have a panic attack we scan to find out what the danger is. When there is not an obvious source our brain comes up with reasons-usually the worst case senario-I'm going to die, Im going crazy ect. These thoughts then lead to your body responding with more fear ending up in whats called the panic cycle. One feeding off the other. Only advice i can give you is dont buy into the thoughts. Challenge and come up with alternatives. ie: i am not going crazy i am reacting to stress right now. Try to relax your body and slow breathing. Visit some panic sites and they should be able to also give you lots of info.

 

[Monkeydust]

I think this has to be our first case of Jerry Springer-induced DP. :wink:

Here's a few tips on the sleeping. I had this problem a lot.

1. If you can't sleep, get up. If you're mulling stuff over in your mind you won't get anywhere. You probably won't want to, but do so anyway. I've had a number of occasions where I've been mulling stuff over in my mind for literally hours, got up, read a couple of pages of a book, and gone to sleep in a few minutes after that.

2. Do plenty of stuff in the day. Especially execise or something that makes you physically tired.

3. Listen to some music or the radio. It helps some people immensely.

4. Eat a light snack or have a drink before sleeping. Caffeine or cheese aren't recommended.

5. Read a boring book.

6. Practice "imagery" in your mind. I never used to do this one. I used to just "think away" until my body went to sleep itself. It helped a lot when I started actively visualizing scenes, such as swimming or lying on a beach. It engages the right side of the brain.

7. If all else fails, take a valium. If you don't have that or a similar medical aid, whisky can be the last line of defence.

 

[enigma]

I have to take a battery of knockout meds to get to sleep at night (if the posts I make after 11:00 p.m. Central (U.S.) always seem weird, that's why).

e

 

[university girl]

DeNiro,

When I first got sick, I had major insomnia and I had it for years. I had insomnia because my mind wouldn't stop having these random, pointless thoughts (i wasn't worrying). Paxil helped me heaps. Try writing out your frustrations when this happens. That seemed to help too. Of course there's the no caffeine after noon, exercise during the day, keep your room as dark as possible, don't work in your room type of approach as well.

 

[Guest]

sometimes i find a bit of light helps me. i have a cd player across my bed theat has some display lights. i usually play a cd (like smooth pop, no major jumps in volume) at minimum volume. i find that these things aren't intense enoguh to distract you and stop you from sleeping, but their presense 'grounds' me and i have less panicky/random thought feelings.

 

[Da'Burgh]

Yeah, I usually sleep with the TV on at a low volume.

 

[peterparker]

Yeah, I usually sleep with the TV on at a low volume.

Yup. TV here also. Closed caption turned on, low brightness, sleep timer.