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Im to scared and anxious to sleep and I cant stop the paranoia & I need help

Im to scared and anxious to sleep and I cant stop the paranoia & I need help

Hi Everyone,

Im a generally anxious person and its getting worse as I get older and become more aware of the things & mainly the dangers around me. I feel anxious in the car with people and i dont trust the and I constantly am assesing there health and there driving, speed & how close to the next car they are or if they are going to ram into the car in front, if i hear a plane at night go over my house the first thing i think is bomb. These are only a few of many general anxieties i have but a particualr fear is causing me a imense amount of trouble. I have a fear of spiders and it has always been bad but lately its gotten to the point where I cant sleep & im scared to sleep and turn the light off & sometimes I cant stop crying I sit up during the day time worrying about and dreeding when im going to have to go to sleep.

My room is prone to spiders I find at least 1 usually multiple a day in my room & thats only the ones I can see I have had white tail spiders fall on me while i sleep and crawl up my leg on the couch I have more of an issue with them at night. Everynight without fail I will shine a flash light under the bed and do a inspection of the underneath and floor of my room then I remove the sheets and clear the bed I shake out the sheet and quilt then I shine the flash light behind the bed throughly checking for spiders then I will check behind every piece of furniture and i will check the walls for any dots or marks etc to make sure they arnt spiders then I shake out the sheets and make the bed then i repeat the bit with the flash light. I will sit with my light on for at least 30 min to make sure i can see any new ones that come out of hiding then i turn the light off & even after this I am paramoid and fearful and I cant make the anxiety stop. Even just sitting in my room makes me anxious I can feel what feels like lots of tiny spiders and bugs in my hair running around and feel them running all over my body. I cant sleep & im paranoid and panicy and cry.

When im asleep i cant protect myself I am defenceless and not in control i ususally do the flash ligth check thing multiple times a night. Every dot or mark on a wall every bit of dust fills me with the fear and I cant take it I cant sleep and all i want to do is cry I dont know what to do logically I know that they probably wont hurt me & that no one in Australia has died of a spider bite in decades but If i get bitten in my sleep and I dont know i could die. I feel like they are falling onto my neck and back and head from webs as i write this I cant deal with this anymore I dont know what to do my family get mad when i make a big deal out of the spiders I sleep with a shoes and a can of one shot spider spray onmy bed side table I even keep my air con vents shut so they cant get in that way. I really dont know what to do I should like a baby.

Please help me the thought of having to sleep tonignt is unbearbale.

2 replies

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In response to: Im to scared and anxious to sleep and I cant stop the paranoia & I need help

Re: Im to scared and anxious to sleep and I cant stop the paranoia & I need help

Hello @Alec_29,

Thank you for sharing your story on the forums, it's great that you are seeking some extra support for yourself in dealing with your anxiety and worry.

I'm not sure if you have ever spoken to a mental health professional about this constant worrying, but it seems like it is really affecting your sleep at the moment and that sounds really exhausting.

How would you feel about booking in a long appointment with your GP and talking about what you are experiencing of late and they can refer you to a Psychologist on the Mental Health Plan in which you can receive 10 sessions with a Medicare rebate.

In the meantime you could also speak to someone at the Anxiety Recovery Centre, they have some programs, support groups and a helpline to asist people in coping with their anxiety.

ARCVIC

1300 269 438

http://arcvic.org.au/

You could also work on some ways which help to take your mind off the spiders, which seem to be making you quite anxious and worried, are there times during the day when you aren't thinking about the spiders? What are you doing during these times?

Lunar

In response to: Re: Im to scared and anxious to sleep and I cant stop the paranoia & I need help

Re: Im to scared and anxious to sleep and I cant stop the paranoia & I need help

Hi @Alec_29

Just wanted to share you are not alone with this as I have had anxiety issues since a child (GAD genralised anxiety disorder).

As a child I never went on rides as I was too scared thinking the chains will break or something will happen, travelling in cars always worried of accidents etc. I even was petrified with spiders like you but I guess owning a house and having no option but often having to get rid of them myself has given me that exposure so I have been able to deal with it - oh! I still try and get rid of them from a distance - throw things at them or spray and run but I'm much better 🙂

Below is a link which has helped me for everyday worries but wont help the spider one I'm sorry.

Basically you have a time each day to worry in say 5.30pm after work. So today I'm anxious about goin into work and I have no reason for my anxiety so I say to myself out loud "I dont kno why I'm worrying because there is nothing to worry about, when I get into work and find I need to worry about something I will do this when I get home" 8/10 times I have forgotton all about it by the time I get home but if I dont I worry and try to write down why I'm worrying on paper and see if I can see a logical solution - sometimes there isnt and you just worry. This takes time though and practice but as @Former-Member said go to see your GP and they can help with services and meds if needed.

Take care

http://www.anxieties.com/102/self-help-practice-4-create-worry-time#.WDzUNLJ9670

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