Sleep anxiety disorders

LegacyUser

Hey,

I have been having trouble sleeping lately. Since I was a kid I've always had problems with grinding my teeth. When I got to my late teens it got so bad that I started getting symptoms from TMJ. I've also always had problems around exam times with not being able to sleep (despite trying everything) and then not being able to function. In the last couple of years I've developed sleep apnea, where I wake up gasping for breath multiple times at night. For the past 6 months (about) I have had to go to bed completely exhausted or I'll lie awake for hours feeling really upset and worked up (just about ordinary things that haven't gone well for me in the past). If I'm just very tired I still won't be able to sleep, I have to be literally exhausted which is not always possible. I started a stressful job recently and I need to be fully functioning at work, which is not possible on 3 or 4 hours of bad sleep!

I don't know what to do at this point. I've tried all the home remedies of lavendar, milk, exercise, no exercise, reading, etc etc. Nothing seems to work. My doctor said that the sleep apnea was anxiety attacks I'm having during my sleep. My dentist said that the teeth grinding was not a physical problem with the alignment of my teeth, but a stress induced activity too. I'm also assuming my not being able to get to sleep is also a stress related problem as it gets worse when I have a lot to do and during exam time when I was in college. I've been to a counsellor. I don't have any severe stress problems (I'm generally a relaxed, upbeat person), this is obviously just my reaction to the ordinary stresses in my life but I can't take it anymore, I need to get some decent sleep!!! I just don't know how to deal with something I'm not consciously in control of.

Has anyone had to deal with this before?

Beruthiel

No medical advice people!

MsAllybear

Right OP, i completly see where you're coming from, sounds like me all over!
Go to your dentist or a specialist orthodontist and get a mouth guard- (protects your teeth from wearing away) or a bite guard (will fix your allignment- stop future pain!)
i'm extremely bad with grinding- breaking all fillings etc so double trouble and when ur grinding, you're not 100% asleep- sleep experts would tell you this.

it is related to stress,, calmomile tea before bed? i find it relaxes me, sleep better!
If you can, avoid your bedroom being an area of stress -i.e. can you work/study somewhere else? so that your room is just for sleeping/ relaxing.

Good Luck!

lace

Hi OP!

I've been grinding my teeth in my sleep for years and broken a few fillings doing so. For me, it's not just when I'm stressed - it's constant. I even do it when I'm awake and really relaxed! If it's hurting your teeth like it did mine, your dentist should be able to sort you out with a specially fitted mouth guard to wear while you sleep (around €90, I think).

I've also had problems sleeping since I was young. When I was in leaving cert I was living on 3 or 4 hours sleep per night but was somehow able to function as normal! However, I'm not so young anymore and my body isn't as well able to deal with a lack of sleep. When I can't sleep I wait it out for about 20 minutes and then have to get up. If I know it's futile I see no point lying there in the dark, thinking to myself. I get out of the bed and read or listen to music for a while. When I start to get tired, I get back in the bed and try again. It doesn't always work but I find it does help.