When I don't sleep, I have a lot of anxiety about the evening. I'm not able to wind down and I end up not sleeping for nights and then have to resort to Lunesta. What are some of your suggestions to stop the anxiety that interferes with my sleep so much?
Anxiety pre-sleep is one of the most common complaints I get. In many cases people tell me that they cannot turn their mind off! Thus they think too much, causing anxiety. Here are a few helpful hints:
1) Try reading before bed, using a book light and not an overhead light.
2) When reading try fiction, not non-fiction as it has a tendency to be engaging.
3) If reading does not help, how about meditation or relaxation techniques? There are many different DVDs and CDs available on the market.
4) If all else fails, try counting backward from 300 by threes (it works for me).