Insomnia

I wish I had an answer. I have alot of this and it takes medication sometimes, RX

I hope you are not trying to sleep with the heating pad!? That isn't a good idea (incase you didn't know). I have not heard of tapping. To me that would make me nervous. Its more like a fidget then something that could be relaxing.

Have you tried imagery, mixed with breathing? Picture a nice place. Some place you have been or would like to see. Make sure its quite and peaceful. And in this place you see yourself relaxing. And its a happy place. While you have this image in your head control your breathing. Deep full breaths. Notice your lungs inhale and exhale. Feel your body relax. And just let go.
I find myself falling asleep just thinking about it..lol
This method works great for me to fall asleep or calm my anxiety. The trick to it is forcing yourself to focus on the image and your breathing only. Do not let your mind wonder off to other things. Stick to the picture you have started. Finish it. Including colors. Pay attention to details. Is the sky blue enough? Are there clouds? Where is the sun? Is there grass or flowers? A babbling brook?
Its very important to focus. If your mind starts to wonder tell yourself NO. And go back to your image. Be very persistent and don't give up if it doesn't work right away. keep at it!

Good Luck!
Cary-Ann

Thank you all! I have tried prescription sleep aids and they have had the opposite effect on me or just make me feel funny. That of course doesn't help my anxiety any, lol. I don't sleep with the heating pad, I just use it while I watch TV before we go up to bed. My muscles have been so sore and tight lately!

I need to learn the imagery. I have a VERY difficult time turning my mind off and concentrating. I've done the muscle relaxation in the past, tensing and releasing each muscle group. I'll have to start that up again, thank you for the reminder! :)

Thank you Ben! I may try my ipod tonight.  I wish you success as well!!! 

Hi..just went thur the same thing for about 3 weeks...Dr upped my xanax, didnt work, gave me ambien, didnt work, upped my antidepressant, made me more anxious and i was getting to the point i was telling myself at night that i wasnt gonna sleep and sure enough i didnt.....Finally after much prayer and  tryed to up my xanax once more i have started to sleep again....FINALLY..with the xanax... so i know where your comming from dear....Hang in there, tell your dr and see what he can do for u...

Hugs

Lucy

A great way that I've found for turning the anxiety beast off is to focus on a tv show or movie or something of that nature. Basically just running through the entire plot in my head and thinking about the different characters. This stops me from running through my life in my head, and turns my focus on to something that I enjoy. Eventually you'll just naturally drift off to sleep.

I'm the exact same way! I've been through therapy and countless medications including OTC remedies which haven't worked at all. My Psych finally put me on a low dose of Ambien and it seems to work so far. I would love to be able to do the imgery stuff at night, but my brain won't shut up at all, so I pretty much need to knocked out. I'm constantly worried about having panic attacks and the worry gets worse at night. I really wish there was a simple solution for me.

Thanks,
Lisa

When you say you haven't slept in a week, are you saying you sleep but you can't stay asleep? Because there is no way you can go completely without sleep for a week. Your body won't be able to function if you had to stay awake for that long. It's not possible. If you sleep like for a few hours and wake up, I can understand.

If I were you, I'd definitely try other sleeping pills. You've only tried a few? There are plenty of sleeping aids out there. You have to force your body to sleep. And at this stage, your concentration may be very week, if you really haven't slept well for that long.

In the midst of severe anxiety and panic, I could not sleep and I had no choice but to be hospitalized and be given an IV drip of sleeping aid. It worked finally and from then, I was on sleeping pills and benzos for a week or two and finally I could sleep better. I still take benzos daily. This is just my opinion and I can't say it would work for everyone though.

Good luck!

Hey! You sound like me! I was like that too when my panic was really bad! I couldn't function or sleep at home, so I was hospitalized. It was good in a way because I was forced to stay in bed, with the IV drip. I wish your doc could give you something that would work. Are you on benzos during the day?

Im on day 27 of Celexa (who's counting) and finally had a good day and slept last night (7 hrs) with .5 xanax. I even had dreams!! Hang in there..such a long process...

just a thought, and im very sorry if you hav tried this but a great over the counter remedy is valerian root tea... also u can brew it with some hops in it! both have very calming and sedative properties... doesnt work for everyone, but mite be worth a try! I wish you well, i hav constant insomnia, so i kno what u go thru! also, if u ever need it, i normally hang around in the chats when i cant sleep! and others do as well, so if it helps u to talk, feel free, im always looking for company! lol good luck!

I too use my ipod and meditation/visualization.  I just found a place where I can download free audiobooks to my ipod via my local library web page.  They have some guided meditation audiobooks that I have been finding helpful to calm me down and let me get to sleep.  Plus, if I wake in the middle of the night, it is right there.