Hi Jo

Im replying to you (although i notice you posted this some time ago!), but i have just read your post and cant believe that i have found someone who has the same feelings as me! I dont ever write on message boards, but after reading this i just had to post a reply!

I have been suffering the same problem on and off now for about 5 years (im 26), the fear of not getting to sleep comes and goes in waves. Sometimes i can be the best sleeper ever and not bother myself about how much sleep im getting, and other times it can rule my day! I think it started when i got a new job working days- i have an early start every week day, with a long drive ahead of me. Im a nurse, and therefore used to working shifts- the sleep thing was never a problem cos i knew that if i didnt get a good nights sleep one night, if i was on a late shift the next day it didnt matter cos i could have a lie in (even tho i never did, there was no anxiety about having to get up in the morning). When this first started i was worrying about it so much that i was getting to sleep at about 4am, only having about an hours sleep, i could not function well at work and was so worried about taking time off because if this. I would worry all day about going to bed, and as soon as i got into bed i would start getting nervous and panicing. This would go on for a few weeks, then eventually i would 'forget' about it and just get back to normal! I think tho that the fear is always slightly there in the background. My hubby would think i was crazy when i was going through these phases, im not normally a stressed person, i dont really worry about too much in day to day life, i have no kids and dont  really have anything to feel anxiety about, other than sleep- or not getting to sleep!

I find myself analysing it, and thinking about 'how' i get to sleep, so i can try to teach myself how to do it each night, but this would just make things worse! I find it wierd that we go to sleep for these hours and dont remeber anything about it, and how do we fall into sleep! Eventually i just started to tell myself that it doesnt matter if i dont get to sleep, or get enough, it wont harm me- thus taking the pressure off me!

Its strange, it comes and goes in waves, as ive said somethimes i can go to bed at 9 and sleep like a log the whole night- for months on end (but i always have a pressure for me to be in bed before 10!) then for some reason it just starts again! I think i reward myself toomuch if ive had a good night, i think how much better i feel and  how i can do all these great tings when im well rested, like going to the gym etc.. when in reality i dont feel any better if ive slept that long than if ive had a bad night. Its defo all in the mind. I feel like im going crazy sometimes, but my main thing that has helped me cope with it is TRYING not to thinkabout falling asleep when im in bed. I went to see the doctor when this firststarted, they prescribed me a sleepiing tablet for a few nights only, which im gald about because the last thing i wanted was to get reliant on medication. Ive never been back or spoke to anyone other than myhubby & friends about this, i just dont think anyone else undertsands!

Im fit and well, got no health probelms and keep active, so there is no reason y this should be happening to me, i just think about something too much that should be natural!

Some things that i have found to help slightly are:

Lavender spray for my pillow, herbal nytol and night rescue remedy..and the best thing- not reading too muchabout it or talking about it, ive found even if my mind is spinnng with anxiety about not getting to sleep, not talking about it kind of makes it not as bad. If i start telling my hubby about how i feel, it makes me think about it more and increases my anxiety further!

Well i know this is long winded, and probably has been of no help to you at all, but i wanted to share with you that you are not alone, try not to worry about it, it will come and go...and i alays think, when i have got something really to worry about then i will look back on these silly times in my life and wonder what i was worrying about! (even tho that seems hard at times!)

Good luck and i hope that you overcome this once and forall! For me i think it will always be there in the background, but im learning how to cope with it sligtly better!

Sam xx

p.s, sorry about the spelling and lack of spaces inbetween words, my laptop is playing up and is overtyping- i couldnt be bothered to write it all out again! :)