Anxiety Hours

[Ti Vu]

Okay, when all of this began, I would get hit by anxiety and fear hardest around noon all the way to five or 6pm. Then for a while, it was 5am to 7/8am. Right now, my peak anxiety hours are from 9am to around 2/3pm. I don't know what's going on or why my body keeps messing with me. I'm so scared.

 

[Lady of Longbourn]

How is your sleep cycle?

 

[Ti Vu]

Horrible, to be quite honest. I hop into bed and fall asleep around 11:30pm. And then I typically wake up at 6:40am, which my alarm is set to. Some days I'd just snooze until 10:30/11am, some days I wake up at 6:40 and sleep intermittently, other days I jolt awake before my alarm and just lay there in panic.

 

[KwanYingirl]

Things must be moving around you settling in new ways. Maybe a journal entry of what's going on when your anxious May help you see a pattern. Then do self care and checking with your body.

 

[Ti Vu]

I will do that. Thank you so much, KwanYingirl. I grew up in a Buddhist household and we always had the most pictures and statues of Kwan Yin. She's my favorite. :)

 

[KwanYingirl]

@Ti Vu
I also wake bolt upright and in a panic. It is one of the most unsettling things I have to deal with. I know that sleep disturbance is a hallmark feature of PTSD. I've been working on this in therapy. Last week I didn't sleep or eat for two days. I had to cancel my clients. Then it just passed and I took a long nap and woke up refreshed.

One thing I know for sure. Whenever I am in great distress, it always passes. I am really trying my best to practice grounding techniques. Here it is at 4am and I am wide awake.

 

[Ti Vu]

Definitely unsettling. It comes from out of nowhere, and changes up randomly. Hot and then cold. I feel like I have zero control over anything I do at this point. Just at the mercy of my brain. Great to hear that this stuff passes for you:) and best of luck on the grounding. It's 1am over here. Occasional traffic and noises outside keep waking me up.

 

[Randombits]

I know in my experience sleep disruptions throw every thing off and seem to make for more panic attacks.

Have you talked about sleep meds with any of your Drs? For some people it's absolutely needed I've been told. I would caution against it if you live alone but as long as there's someone else to see if they cause side effects it's worth talking to someone about.

My son is a Buddhist, he's ten but devout like I have never seen any one be as a child. I envy those who can adhear to the tenants of letting go. He has tried making me do meditation and yoga with him but grounding and me they just don't seem destined to meet.

 

[Ti Vu]

It's a terrible, vicious cycle.

I'm only seeing a psychologist at this point. And I'm not really comfortable with medication. I can't afford it anyway. I'm already spending a lot with my psychologist. I actually try to listen to podcasts and audio books to try and sleep. They're semi-effective.

That's incredible! Yeah, I've never been any good keeping in practice. But it doesn't hurt to try:) I think that you and grounding, and Inner Peace, will meet. It's just a matter of time:)

Thank you for sharing your experience with me:) And a heartfelt Namaste to you and your son. :)

Happy Healing:)

 

[KwanYingirl]

@Ti Vu
Have you tried listening to Tibetan singing bowls? You might be interested in Googling them and how they have proven to improve sleep and reduce nightmares in Vets that have PTSD. I think the research was done by Harvard but I could be wrong about that. Anyway, I listen to them on Pandora and I also have bought recordings on iTunes.

I also went to a sound healer who plays crystal bowls but OMG it was too jarring for my body I got a huge headache. The Tibetan bowls are brass and much more mellow.

I can set a timer on Pandora. Just an idea that's helped me and you may find the research interesting.

 

[Randombits]

@KwanYingirl

That's fascinating if you find a link to the study would you share it?

 

[Ti Vu]

Thank you, @KwanYingirl. I've never heard of that before. I'll definitely look into it. :)