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Posted 2/11/2012 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
As we were driving to work yesterday, I was side swiped.:(  My daughter and I and the other driver were fine...and that's what is important, but what a way to start the weekend!

The driver was very appologetic (100% at fault) as I have a new '11 Mustang that was in mint condition still.:( (now probably needs a couple of thousand $ worth of work...driver's door all the way to the rear panel scarred)

But stuff is just stuff, and it can be fixed and replaced, unlike people, so I was just glad that it wasn't any worse.

Well I had to compartmentalize and go to work.  I teach dance, so my job requires me to be 'ON!'...I sure wished that I could just lay down and do some breathing...

When I got home I did, but I still had a rough night...nightmares and tossing and turning and I was really struggling not to panic as I woke up with my heart racing a couple of times.

It is funny how, no matter how far you come, the night time can still un-do you.

What do you guys do for the 'middle-of-the-night scaries'?

Thanks for listening:)

S.C. 

Posted 2/11/2012 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
OMG SC! I'm so sorry! I'm glad to hear that everyone was OK though. What really helps me in the middle of the night, if I don't take a xanax, is to sit quietly in my office, do some deep breathing and play some of those games where you have to find things hidden in the pictures. that really seems to take your mind off of the anxiety. Or of course, I come here, and either post something to get it out, or read through some of the posts.

It usually takes me a good hour or so to calm down enough where I can go back to sleep, but it does help.

Hope you are feeling better! (((HUGS))) Fox
Posted 2/11/2012 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Foxy...I tend to fight it and stay in bed, but you're right, sometimes getting up and distracted is the best thing!

...and to all of my friends for whom this subject may be a trigger...please do not feel the need to respond...we all know that we are always in each other's thoughts!

S.C.
Posted 2/11/2012 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
SC,

I am so sorry to read this and I agree that it is a blessing nobody got hurt. I truly mean that. 

I do understand your feelings !  I find I often will say the right thing in a situation like this but underneath I am still very upset that the crash happened. This causes me to feel guilty for being so material.  Having someone else cause my car to be damaged because they took a chance is hard to swallow and be gracious about.  On top of that your life as well as you daughter's was in jepordy.  Having a bad night was bound to happen as you had a traumatic experience and all the "what if?" thoughts must have been spinning through your mind. 

Using your relaxation breathing methods and allowing the anxiety to come without fighting so hard may work the next time you feel like this.

Give yourself time to get past this and know I am always here to support you. 

As you know for me the anxiety makes me angry as I want so bad for it to stay away so I may have been up in the middle of the night throwing those dang old paper plates. 

Love and hugs,

Kitt

 

 

Posted 2/11/2012 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi SC

Sorry to read this and glad you and your daughter are ok that must of been a real fright for you and as the others have said i'm not surprised you did not get any sleep. Hopefully you have insurance to cover the repairs to your car??. I find getting up up and having a hot drink can help me if I am having a bad night.

Really glad you are ok we are here for you as always so let us know how you are getting on. Take Care


Big Hugs

B
Posted 2/11/2012 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys:)

Kitt...yep the what-ifs did a number on me. My nightmares proved it...the actual event was not dangerous...just damaging to my 'mid-life baby' (the car), but I had dreams of worse things of course.

and B, yes we have full coverage, but more importantly so did she...so it will be coming out of her insurance!

Again, I am just glad that everyone is okay. Thanks for the support everyone.

S.C.
Posted 2/12/2012 3:18 AM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear that you and your daughter are ok SC.

Of all the years of anxiety, I can remember nights being really tough for me...especially early on.

 

These days I sleep really well most of the time but occasionally will wake in the wee hours. I find that I am either really at ease or a bit wound tight, it's about 50/50. If I feel anxious, I usually can't just lay in bed...makes it worse. I will usually get up and take my laptop to the patio area out in the pool screen in and just do some surfing online....news stories, ebay...whatever.

 

The combination of being outside and distracted by the computer usually works like a charm, but in a lot of cases...I'm usually up for as much as two hours before I can go back to sleep. Not that I'm not calm, just not tired at that point.

 

I hope things workout and your car looks good as new again. Best wishes......WM

Posted 2/12/2012 5:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks WM:)

I think that part of my light sleeping has to do with still having one kiddo at home...always one ear half-awake!

I remember the time when I could crash out for 8-9 hours of uninterupted sleep...oh those were the days!

Here's to a nice, long uninterupted sleep for all of us!!! (I'm having a glass of red wine atm as insurance;p)

S.C.
Posted 2/14/2012 1:30 PM (GMT 0)
Yikes! I'm sorry I missed this as I've been away from my computer the last few days.

I'm so glad everyone was okay! *HUGS!* It seems completely understandable that an event like this would trigger anxiety. I know I'd be a mess for a good week or two... if not longer.

Whenever I can't sleep I take a muscle relaxant (Soma helps me a lot with those nights I know I won't sleep well), and if that's not an option... I usually get out of bed and go read either a book or just random stuff on the internet until I start feeling really sleepy again.
Posted 2/14/2012 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
((hugs)) SC I am sorry to hear about what happened, I am really glad that everyone was ok :). I get through my nights of anxiety by either reading till I pass out lol or playing hidden object games like fox does :), I also watch cartoons cause sometimes the funny silly ones really make me laugh and my mind moves from my worry/anxiety to finding the funny plot of the cartoon lol. I hope you feel better soon SC(hugs)

Shell
Posted 2/14/2012 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Risa and Skysmommy!

Yeah, we are not injured and that is what counts! I only had that one bad night, and I did have some weird dreams, but that's about it.

On to the next phase...got the estimate, and will have to be without my car for about a week and a half:(

Rental, oh well!

Thanks for the advice...S.M. cartoons are the best...what will I do when I don't have a little one as an excuse to watch them? Probably watch them anywany...I can always say I am doing research and keeping current for my youngest students!;)

Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

S.C.
Posted 2/15/2012 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Glad no one was hurt!!!

But that could shake you up quite a bit.  I get panicky in the night sometimes and I do go for the xanax.  Sometimes I breathe in an essential oil that I use for anxiety.  I sometimes just lay there in the dark, propped up on my pillow, my whole body shaking.  I feel that having my body shake like it does relieves some of the anxiety and finally makes me feel sleepy enough to fall asleep.  I also sometimes look out the window(I live near a stoplight and I count how many seconds before the light changes-30 seconds).  I've also read(forgot what it's called) that touching something like something soft or a pet or whatever helps bring you in the present and distracts you.  I've done that before.

I try to do deep breathing during a panic attack but that doesn't seem to help me.  It seems to make it worse.  I haven't tried deep breathing on a regular daily basis though-should try that.

Posted 2/15/2012 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
You are right Orchid! If one of the cats is on the bed, it is comforting to pet them, and their rhythmic purring is calming!

I used to have one of those alpaca teddy bears too...I would cuddle it and feel great! That was long before any anxiety issues, but maybe I should look into getting another one!

You mentioned bad smells as triggering panic...well I read conversely that good smells have a theraputic effect...especially those with good early associations such as baby powder, or a scent from your childhood with a positive memory...well these alpaca teddy bears smell very natural and comforting...strange but true.

I am seriously thinking of ordering one!

S.C.
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