Too scared to sleep

[Spike]

Hmm. That's hard. Do you have favorite bible verses? Maybe after a nightmare, instead of trying to go right back to sleep, you calm yourself down with these, then write down the dream. Have a warm glass of milk, or... I don't know. Create a soothing little ritual you do every time you have a nightmare.

And I like the other suggestions folks have come up with here, too. Try things until something works for you. Oo! One thing that works for me on sleepless nights is lavender incense. I don't know why, but that stuff makes me sleepy. And I admit to occasionally snuggling up to a stuffed animal.

[MoreMercy]

So ever since September 2009 I've had anxieties about falling asleep. I know that God is protecting me and I pray every night for Jesus to hold me close. But every couple of weeks it gets to the point where I jump at every sound and have horrible thoughts and when I actually DO fall asleep I get paralysis or wake up screaming. Please pray for me or tell me what I can do. I am completely trusting in God so why do I still have all of these anxieties? I just want to be able to lie in my own bed with my husband and to fall asleep without panicking about nightmares and past traumas.

Hi riotgrrrl

I know this sounds to simple, but it worked for me, and I have recommended it many times to many people, and it seems to work with everyone I know who has went ahead and tried it for at least three nights in a row, right before they close their eyes to try to sleep.

I have had similar issues which have kept me in states of anxiety enough to keep me from sleeping, I found that my lack of sleep in itself lead to other even worst issues in my life than not sleeping.
Well anyway, I found that reading the book of Psalms in our bible filled me with thoughts, good thoughts and even filled me with desires to praise God, that eventually gave me a sense of peace, which initially got me to sleep and fed my mind with better things to keep me asleep and dreaming of better things than my mind desired to think on.

It is not an instant fix, but every night that I did read from it or another placid book in the bible, like any one of the first four gospels in the new testament.
My state of anxiety lessened, more and more.
The more nights I read before I slept the more nights I had peaceful sleeps... Eventually I had some peaceful sleep throughout the entire week, and what a different world it was when I was well rested, giving my mind a chance to rest made it stronger to resist the over whelming negative thoughts it wanted to dwell on.


I will be praying with and for you also sweet sister

[dga]

Try drinking green tea, or even black tea, in the evening before going to bed. Tea contains an amino acid called L-theanine. That amino acid, reduces the level of the so called stress hormone 'cortisol', which makes the body stressful. Also, the amino acid L-theanine in tea, slows down the effect of caffeine in tea, so it does not make you jumpy or nervous like drinking coffee for example, but black or green tea, will help you relax. Yeas you red it right. Green or black tea will help you relax and sleep properly, even when drank in the evening.

Also, try to put honey in the tea, and to eat a piece of toast or some complex carbs before going to bed. Carbohydrates cause the level of the hormone serotonin, to be increased in the brain, and that hormone helps you feel relaxed.

[Youssarian]

When I'm already quite sleepy, I get uncomfortable about the idea of being asleep and unconscious. I simply listen to music or let my mind wander on other things, and before I know it I'm asleep.

Also, I don't know if you're aware of this, but the paralysis - specifically, sleep paralysis - is quite normal. It's needed so that you don't start acting out your dreams. Some people wake up still in this sleep paralysis more commonly than others. I may have once in my recallable life time.

[walknolonger]

I used to have the same thing happen to me every night, Now i am just fine. What i did is I stopped thinking about demons, Ghosts and spirits. also i stopped looking them up on the internet and watching them on tv. I also deleted all of my music and I have Christian Music Only folder.

Once you remove all your thoughts on it, it will stop tormenting you.

[riotgrrrl582]

I just want to report that I have been sleeping well for the past few months. I try to be in constant prayer and my relationship with Jesus is much stronger, also I listen to Hillsong to fall asleep

[IMINXTC]

Wonderful news, and thank you for the update