Sleep problems

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I sometimes have lots of problems sleeping & I think they include "night terrors" & "sleep paralysis". I go true phrases where I have lots of problems going to sleep, falling asleep & staying asleep. I sometimes have vague memories/dreams of being unable to move & feeling like I can not breathe. I also sometimes suddenly wake up kind of scared, startled & really confused. I toss & turn a lot as well & I sometimes wake up in very uncomfortable positions with body parts(like my back) sore or one of my arms completely numb from the way I slept. I think some or a lot of it is caused by anxiety. It's like my mind does not want to go to sleep because I'm afraid of having sleep problems so my mind tries to fight sleep & I end up causing the sleep problems; not sure if this makes sense I've been having sleep problems for the last 7 years when I started having major mental problems. I was seeing docs/psychs for mental stuff for 5 years & I told em about my sleep problems & they changed my meds around because of it. Medication seemed to make my sleep worse but my sleeping problems are kind of inconsistent at times so it's hard to say for sure. My sleep got somewhat better after I quit the meds & all a year or so ago but I still go true phases & have problems at times. I think I'm much better off NOT going to docs & NOT taking meds because I've been fairly OK mentally lately & it's been my experience that medication will likely make my problems worse instead of better. I think I would probably sleep a lot better if I was with someone who I felt comfortable with & was close to because I would probably feel more relaxed/safer about going to sleep. I probably would not toss & turn as much either. I'm alone thou & I probably will be for the rest of my life so that's not an option rite now thou a couple idiots suggested I pay someone to sleep with me I'm wondering if there's something else I can do. My sleep seems really inconsistent

You might try lucid dreaming techniques to help out with a few of your issues.

What is lucid dreaming

Your dreaming and aware of it. When your dreaming.

In my own case, I think the deal there was more like my becoming more worried *about* my problems after realizing the meds had only been suppressing symptoms rather than actually fixing anything. So, I no longer take any medication that merely masks a symptom, and that helps make it possible to then do a better job of figuring out what actually *is* the problem.



Possibly so, and I suspect I would also have trouble if living alone.

What can give you a relaxed, comfortable feeling? A favorite movie? Book? Defragging your computer? A sleeping bag and tent in the back yard?

Rather than worrying about the troubled sleep you already know can come but you have also already survived for a number of years or so, try to just put your focus on "setting the stage" so you actually *can* rest, then sit or lay or whatever in a comfortable position and begin resting ... and even if for a while you must do that while still awake. Make rest and eventual sleep into a special-interest project with yourself as it test subject and learn to do it well.

Kind of like that American Dad episode where Steve sees a red ball that lets him know he's dreaming




I don't think I could handle living alone.
I started having sleep problems years ago when I was in a long-distance internet relationship. I wanted to sleep with her instead of being away from her. I think it turned into these sleep problems. I feel really lonley in bed maybe cuz I'm trying to relax so my mind's not as distracted on other things. I HATE sleeping alone