Too scared to sleep?

Question

Is insomnia ever characterized by the fear of going to sleep? I can sleep during the day (which doesn't happen often and I'm usually dragging from sleep deprivation) but at night sometimes I get too paranoid to let my guard down.

I used to sleep with a knife under my pillow 'just in case' I need it. And I never take my clothes off; sometimes even my shoes are still on. I guess I want to be prepared to run/fight at the drop of a hat.

What could this be, other than anxiety (which I'm diagnosed with)? Post-traumatic stress? A sleeping phobia? Bah...I just wish I could go to bed, but don't. The early morning hours (3am-5am) are particularly the worst...If I haven't managed to sleep before then, I just stay up and forget about it.

Answer 1

Same here Go to the doctor I went over a year ago he gave me some pills and now I sleep great. It was anxiety is what I had sounds like the same to me get it checked

Answer 2

Since your sleep habits are all messed up...try Melatonan...it helps get you back on schedule. It's not a drug..it's a hormone ..drs. recommend it for kids that can't sleep. Did somebody break in on you in the past? They did me. I should be the one with the knife under my pillow and my clothes on ready to fight back and run. But I don't do that...so why do you:?? I think you're feeling this way because you've lost so much sleep...and that can make you paranoid. Try to get some sleep medication and tell your dr. Do you live alone and have no one to protect you? If that were the case I could understand your reasoning better. Did something bad happen to you? You could wear pajamas...you could still run out of the house in them...and you would be covered up...and you could wear socks instead of shoes. Just try a few gradual changes. I think the knife under your pillow is okay...just don't use it on an innocent person. Even better..I'd sleep with a cellphone and have it set on 911. Obviously , you feel very insecure. Do you have a dog? Maybe that would help.

Answer 3

Well Im not entirely sure of your sleeping situation but you should try going to sleep while watching t.v put the sleep timer on and there you go. From what you've described it sounds like your having mild night terrors which tend to go away over time. If you let the fear consume you the dreams your having will never dissapate. I suggest trying to get to sleep at around 8-9 o clock at night that way theres still some light outside. You haven't described just what it is your scared of other than your dreams so Maybe sleep with a night light so when you wake up scared from a bad dream your not so dis-orientated. Good luck and i hope you get through your fear of sleeping.

Answer 4

When you were younger did you always watch scary movies?
Do you drink caffeine drinks like coffee or soda? Do you see the news at night or read the paper regarding all the bad stuff happening to people in their homes? Did something happen when you were younger (to you or someone in your family) that you might not remember, but it's still in you subconscious? (ask your parents).

When i was younger i watched too many scary movies so when i moved out i used to sleep with the lights on (even though I had become a mom and two small children) and never, ever let my foot or arm hang over the mattress because something could be under the bed!!! I wasn't free from these fears until I had a born-again experience with Jesus Christ! Reading a easy to understand version of the bible and having a relationship with my Lord & Savior gave me a peace that surpasses all understanding...For a while until i matured in understanding, i slept with the light on and the bible on my chest (it comforted me).

Life still has it's ups and downs and every now and then I let my imagination begin to get carried away and feel like the boogey man is after me and then I pray and it passes.

Choose whatever direction you believe will bring peace, but definitely get help (maybe a therapist or psychiatrist )...it doesn't get better, most of the time it just gets worse until they put you on medication for the rest of your life.

Answer 5

Hi,
I have the same problem,I often can't fall asleep untill morning.I tried to sleep with a lamp on but ended up feeling even more tired in the morning because of the bright light.The solace that I recently have discovered is to listen to the radio,it really helps,it just gives you feeling that you're not alone,I guess, "connected to the world".I can turn off the light and feel safe.
This especially helpful if you don't want to go to a therapist or take medication,it may be a good idea though.
Take care

Answer 6

Insomnia is the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep and there are many reasons people get insomnia, some even medical reasons but in your case anxiety and stress can be the main culprit because your mind just can't shut down due to fear. Perhaps you had a traumatic experience in your past that triggered such anxiety and fear in which case would cause insomnia. Anxiety and PTS are major contributors to lack of sleep for people in general who suffer from anxiety or PST. A good therapist can give you strategies and tools to alleviate your anxiety because your fears are preventing your mind from shutting down so that you can get a good night sleep.What this is, is the anxiety due to fear that is more than likely causing the insomnia.

Answer 7

Whoa, you are not taking the fearful of danger while sleeping far enough. You have to do better.

Id say, before you sleep, make sure that your surroundings are safe. Install double deadbolts, locks on windows, metal bars and rig some alarms.

Hey whats the point of being armed if you dont get any warning ?

To deal with fear like this, always take the initiative of planning the steps before an "attack" if this is what you fear.
What are you doing planning only the "fight" part?

When you secure your sleeping surroundings, and make sure that you have warning bells that will go off should an intruder penetrate the perimeter you set up, then you know you have time to react.

So you can sleep !

Answer 8

Hello,

I too use to do exactly what you are doing. My therapist told me that it is a suppressed memory from when I was a child that made me react in the manner in which you are acting. I would let your therapist know what is going on. And yes, it is a Post Traumatic episode-the only problem is, your conscious mind does not remember the event. But since you are older (i.e. not the child that was affected), you can tell yourself with 100% certainty that what you are experiencing is from your past and not your present.

Answer 9

Like the others here have answered - tell your doctor.

The cycle of not sleeping only makes the problem harder to handle.
It's a nasty cycle.
The lack of sleep significantly reduces your ability to think as clearly as you're capable.

Please call the doctor tomorrow, 1st thing.
If the office is closed, then have the answering service have him return your call.
It's possible he/she will phone in a 'script until he can see you next week.

You wouldn't have written here if this isn't what you wanted to hear.

Answer 10

take deap breths and think, is this possible? whats the worst that could happen. the best thing to do, is just to write down on a paper when youre not like that and write down stuff that will saurely help you relax. that used to happen to me when i was round 9 yrs old. id just wake up and be paranoid and strt shaking and talkin to myself. sadly my mom came home bout 3 in the morning and there would be no1 to comfort me