[Abbie]

I was just wondering if anyone else here is ever afraid to fall asleep???

I am this way every night...

I don't know why but the thought of falling asleep makes me very anxious/panicky....


Abbie

[Mari]

Dear Abbie,
Yes.
I am afraid to go to bed.
I don't mind falling asleep on the sofa with the tv on, but going to sleep for real produces all kinds of anxiety.

I'm sorry that you are dealing with that.
It is hard to be rested the next day -- or ever.

M.

[bizi]

dear abbie,
do you think it may have to do with being afraid that you won't be able to sleep? and that you need to sleep and worry about not getting enough sleep or that you are afraid of just lying in bed trying to sleep and sleep won't come?
I am sorry that you are having this problem...is this a new problem?
Have you spoken with your therapist about it?
((((HUGS))))
beth

[waves]

i have only been afraid of going to sleep during periods where, because of meds, i was having repeated parasomnias - repeated semi-awakenings throughut the night where i would have sleep paralysis and typical accompanying hypnagogic/hypnapomping hallucinations (like with someone trying to strangle me or whatever).

i am wondering like Bizi if it has to do with fear of not being able to go to sleep... or not being able to get up by a certain time... that is another instance when i am afraid to go to sleep - when i have to be up the next day for any reason, and i have been suffering insomnia so i am afraid i won't fall asleep in time and then won't wake up. then i get feeling like i MUST SLEEP NOW, and the harder i try, the harder i fail... the more awake and anxious i get, and the later it gets, the worse it gets... a vicious cycle.

can you connect the fear to anything specific? are you afraid of losing control? are there any other things that bring on this fear, besides sleep? is it fear of sleep at any time (eg napping) or just the "formally" going to bed at night - or whenever?

definitely talk to your doctor about this. if you are still dealing with manic symptoms... the less you sleep, the less you sleep.


~ waves ~

[Abbie]

I'm afraid to fall asleep ALL the time... not just at night.

I can't figure out why I feel this way.... I do know that I CAN NOT fall asleep if I don't take my Seroquel... I will stay wide awake all night up to the time I do end up taking it.

I don't feel tired when I do this... I seriously am WIDE AWAKE

As for the fear... I don't understand it.... my Tdoc knows I don't sleep well and that I have been sleep walking and possibly driving as my family has found my car in the drive running a couple of times....

My Pdoc knows I have trouble sleeping but doesn't know about the sleep walking.... I see him next Tuesday... will try to remember to tell him about all fo this then...


Abbie

[waves]

yes, definitely tell doc about the sleep walking AND driving.

if it has started recently it could be med-associated.

fyi, the problems i had with sleep paralysis and associated terrifying hallucinations occurred when i was taking 400mg of Seroquel at night (it was not for sleep specifically but as my mood stabilizer overall). at 600mg however i slept like a slab of rock. so i am wondering if an increase in Seroquel if your dose is not maxed out already could possibly help you also.

but i don't know... if you were having the sleepwalking before using seroquel what he will want to do. certainly something must be done.

and by the way, knowing i do this when i sleep would be enough to make me afraid of sleep as a process.

write yourself a note to take to the doc maybe, so you don't forget. the sleep-driving is really scary!



~ waves ~