Thread: I'm afraid to fall asleep and need some urgent help!

Greetings. I'm very happy to find this forum. I did a similar thread in another forum for people with anxiety but it seems people here have a greater knowledge of dreams so you can help me more.

So, a week ago, I read about sleep paralysis and I freaked out. I suffer from anxiety so it was difficult to fall asleep. I read afterwards that they're very rare unless you have a sleep disorder or attempt lucid dreaming so I calmed down but it was too late.
My brain associates sleep and dreaming with danger now so I become very anxious when I'm trying to fall asleep, like a mechanism which protects me from danger. The idea of falling asleep, the transition from going conscious to unconscious as you enter in the dreamworld totally scares me. I hate the fact that I can't remember that transition and knowing that I'll be unconscious for like 8 hours too. I'm basically scared of the process of falling asleep and dreaming, be it good or bad dreams, for not reason at all.

No, it hasn't been always like this. It only started when I read about sleep paralysis but I don't fear sleep paralysis anymore, just the concept of falling asleep and dreaming. The fact that I know I'll be in a dream.

I'm having exams which are also making me anxious so that might be affecting. I'm hoping that I'll be back to "normal" after the exams but I don't know anymore.

I'm really desperate because I used to enjoy to sleep so much but now it's making anxious and driving me insane. I can only fall asleep through exhaustion and I can hardly sleep for more than 3 or 4 hours a day.

Can someone convinced me of not being scared of falling asleep and dreaming somehow? And don't advice me to try lucid dreaming, please. I find it interesting but I just want relearn on how to not fear sleep and dreaming for
now.
I don't how active this forum is but if you could help as soon as possible because I've a stressful day tomorrow and need some rest.

As a side note, I don't really think this is the right thread for a request like this.

Back on topic, I don't think you can expect anyone here to completely reverse your condition. In fact, I don't even completely understand what exactly you fear. Yes, I understand your input on unconsciousness for 8 hours, going to bed one night and the next moment you experience is back there in the morning. But I can't see why you're scared of that. Personally, I'm irritated by that, and that's why I'm learning lucid dreaming. Is there anything more in particular you fear about it?

I read about sleep paralysis and I freaked out.

It only started when I read about sleep paralysis but I don't fear sleep paralysis anymore

Reading between the lines, despite you overcoming the fear it probably still has an affect on you. Learning about something like this when you've been doing it all your life can easily have that kind of effect. Sleep paralysis probably introduced you to thoughts about exactly what sleep is and started to scare you. Just be aware that sleep and sleep paralysis are both things that help you. Sleep is a recovery period for your brain, being more active as it does not have the responsibilities of consciousness (50% of your brain's activity is used to maintain sight). You cannot die during sleep (unless of course, external matters damage you or an illness does) and you cannot be harmed (again, external matters). Dreams are just nonsensical scenarios based on previous events and people. You will only very rarely get nightmares unless there is a message being conveyed (like your current anxiety, for example). Sleep paralysis, if you haven't already heard, is a mechanism to prevent movement during dreams. It protects you from harm. I can't really go any further than this in convincing you that it is pointless to fear it.

I hope you didn't expect a clear answer when you asked for an unreasonable request. EDIT: Don't really mean this in a mean way, but it might be easier to better a situation when asking people you can talk to directly. Forums posts like these can only go so far from a demand like this, and the best we can give is advice and reassurance, but not as well as actual people.

P.S.

I read afterwards that they're very rare unless you have a sleep disorder or attempt lucid dreaming

The bit about lucid dreaming is a very common misconception; sure, your odds will increase as your mind gets used to being conscious during sleep, but it is still very rare. I forget who, but someone here practiced lucid dreaming for 2 years and it only happened twice to him.

I'm not a doctor, and I don't know much about anxiety. However, the best advice I can give you is to take deep breaths and focus on that. Go through your body and relax each muscle individually. Tell yourself that you are safe and nothing can harm you. When your relaxed, try to keep your mind off sleeping. Do what ever you can, one of my favorite ways as a kid was to listen to music, and with each song come up with a story that goes along with that song. Don't listen to songs that remind you of your fears. If that doesn't work than try other ways, like counting sheep.

i experienced how you felt before and the best thing to do is to get your mind off that fear like what was already mentioned. Some of the things Odahviing mentioned is what I do when the fear comes back. Anxiety can give you many uncomfortable feelings that you don't want so if you end up feeling really uncomfortable the best thing is to do something you like for a while that will take your mind off the fears and relax you. Than try falling asleep again using whatever method that works best for you.
^^ Don't worry that fear goes away as soon as you start getting yourself comfortable with sleeping again and think about the times where it felt good to have a nice nap/fall asleep.

My brain associates sleep and dreaming with danger now so I become very anxious when I'm trying to fall asleep, like a mechanism which protects me from danger.

So rewire your brain then man. Give it some thought as well, none of this stuff happened to you before you read about it, so why would it all of a sudden have a reason to happen? There is no reason for it, so it doesn't make sense. Let your brain come to see that logic and take control of it. Another thing, just relax man. No reason at all to be afraid of sleep or dreaming. You've been doing both every night hopefully for your entire life so far; on top of that, both activities are literally healthy for your body. Make your brain associate sleep and dreaming with peace and relaxation. You can rewire your brain to do that by habit. I know because I overcame anxiety myself. Just realize how illogical it is to be afraid of sleep and dreaming and realize that there is no need for fear. In fact, doubt your fears.

Sleep if so vital for both mental and physical health... by only getting 3 to 4 hours sleep you are doing yourself a huge disservice. You will not function at optimal levels. Embrace sleep and the process of slipping out of consciousness. Embrace the break from all the input.

Thank you for the replies, guys! I'm sorry if I sounded a bit desperate but I posted this when I was feeling tired, stressed and anxious at the same time.

During last night I notice that I'm improving. I closed my eyes and wasn't afraid to fall asleep like before. I focused my mind on other things and managed to remember how I used to enjoy to sleep and dream. I didn't rest well so I took a nap today without many issues. It still bothers me a little bit though but I'm getting there.

Your answers are quite helpful. I'll certainly think about your advices whenever I'm not feeling comfortable in falling asleep.
I might try lucid dreaming someday when I enjoy sleep again.

Anyway, thanks again!

Originally Posted by MojaveWanderer

Can someone convinced me of not being scared of falling asleep and dreaming somehow? And don't advice me to try lucid dreaming, please. I find it interesting but I just want relearn on how to not fear sleep and dreaming for
now.
I don't how active this forum is but if you could help as soon as possible because I've a stressful day tomorrow and need some rest.

hey
it's not a matter of convincing... you spotted a danger, act to defend yourself!
sleep paralysis is the state of mind of someone whose body was taken over by other person\entity, temporarily (per dream) or for the rest of one's life.
here
The Pan Galactic Conference's LOBBY AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSE (?) in Negotiation Forum
from #1 on (i fail to get the separate url) is a workshop at a Russian board, teaching how to posses someone else's body in a dream (google translation, which i edited some.)
Jesus Christ is one such example (but i'm pretty sure the stranger "ascended master" left before the crucifixion...)

i can offer you some training that, if done correctly, could enable you to defend yourself.
climbing the cords of light in Practice Forum -

the practical part starts with "exercise 1 (the introduction refers to people and matters that you probably don't know. you can skip it.)
when you finish that preliminary 3 days training, you can continue to this:
i need your help for healing my own recent injuries in Practice Forum

if something happen to my links - google:
Genaro's Hat > Warriors' Assemblage Point > Practice > climbing the cords of light
Genaro's Hat > Warriors' Assemblage Point > Practice > i need your help for healing my own recent injuries
the upper palate compass rose marked by the tongue #21

good luck, and at least enjoy.

My advice on anxiety : Developed severe anxiety out of the blue wich was very similar to heart attack symptoms. Could not sleep.Started taking Buspirone anxiety is 90 % history . Stop fighting it on your own and get medication or keep suffering. Also maturbating is very effective for anxiety. Not trying to be silly just trying to help.

Originally Posted by MojaveWanderer

Thank you for the replies, guys! I'm sorry if I sounded a bit desperate but I posted this when I was feeling tired, stressed and anxious at the same time.

During last night I notice that I'm improving. I closed my eyes and wasn't afraid to fall asleep like before. I focused my mind on other things and managed to remember how I used to enjoy to sleep and dream. I didn't rest well so I took a nap today without many issues. It still bothers me a little bit though but I'm getting there.

Your answers are quite helpful. I'll certainly think about your advices whenever I'm not feeling comfortable in falling asleep.
I might try lucid dreaming someday when I enjoy sleep again.

Anyway, thanks again!

read my post you need to get on medication. Not sure what level your anxiety is but i tried and suffered with the mind over matter aproach you cant stop brain chemicals once they are being distributed throughout your body. Im on buspirone wich works like a dream im totally relaxed and for once i sleep without fear. Oh for the record my anxiety attacks were profoundly barbaric. Effing brutal . I have permanently causes my self holding breath spells even with meds this bizarre issue is here to stay. Should have started treatment and niped it in the bud . But at least im 90 % free of anxiety.

I had the same problem the first night I tried lucid dreaming. I ended up having a pretty scary sleep paralysis experience-a creature attacked me while I was frozen in my bed. However, when I woke up, I realized it couldn't hurt me. In reality, it isn't scary unless you believe it is. Other times I've had sleep paralysis nothing unusual happened. Your mind associates not being able to move as vulnerability, and it creates hypnogogic hallucinations to reflect your emotions. If you expect benevolent results from sleep paralysis, that is what you'll get.
Remind yourself that your situation can be remedied simply by belief. Convince yourself to release the anxiety of sleep and remind yourself the plethora of positive effects from sleeping. Try meditation and yoga exercises as they can release some of your tension. With time your sudden fear will fade and everything will return to normal.