Anxiety related insomnia before work...

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2012

I have this problem sometimes too. I think I get worried that my alarm will not go off and I will be late for work.

Are you anxious about being late for work or are you anxious about going to work? How do you feel when getting ready for work, or on your drive in? Do you enjoy working there or are you anxious about the thought of going?

It sounds like you're doing the right things to try to fall asleep. You mentioned you're being treated for anxiety. Have you spoken to your doctor about this problem?

When do you exercise? Exercising before bed can actually keep you awake, so you might want to try exercising in the morning or early afternoon. Make sure you avoid TV, reading, and computer use and turn the lights down about an hour before you want to go to sleep. Some relaxation techniques might help: Take a warm shower before bed. Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature. Find some calming music (no lyrics) and listen to it quietly while you lay with your eyes closed. Try progressive muscle relaxation. Start with your head and work your way down to your feet. Tense each muscle group for 15-20 seconds and gradually relax the muscles while you breathe deeply. Try to clear your mind of all thoughts. Imagine a deep, dark pool of water and try to focus only on the water.

As far as the alarms go, maybe you should try buying more than one alarm clock. Set the first one for half an hour before you actually have to get up to give yourself a safety zone, if that makes sense. Test the alarm clock before bed and double check the settings before you go to sleep. I hope you find something that works for you!

trailnurse · Mar 10, 2012

I have the same problem sleeping the night before clinicals. I set my usual alarm clock (which has a battery backup), plus I set an alarm on my phone for 5 minutes later. That way if we lose power AND the battery fails, my phone will still wake me up. It definitely helps. Another thing I do is make a To Do list the night before of what I need to do to get myself out the door in the AM (gets it out of my head & on paper). I also pack up everything I need the night before & lay out my clothes. That way I'm not lying in bed thinking about everything I have to do. Some of my fellow students have had to resort to taking a sleep med like Ambien or Lunesta in order to sleep the nights before clinicals or exams & they say it helps a lot.

I am a nursing student and a CNA. My position is a casual/supplemental position on a telemetry unit and I've been working there for about a year. I am fortunately in the financial situation where I do not have to work often, and I will work a shift or 2 every week or every other week to maintain my supplemental status. I work because I love being a CNA and think that it is valuable experience to a nursing student. The only thing is, is that I can NEVER sleep the night before I work. I never have problems sleeping or falling asleep unless I am going in to work the next day. I have no doubt that this is anxiety related, as I have anxiety that I am being treated for. I always make sure that I exercise and avoid caffeine the day before so that I can try to fall asleep and stay asleep but sure enough, I'm wide awake at 330 waiting for the alarm clock to go off. I don't know if it's that I'm worried that I'll sleep through the alarm clock or what, but I can't ever fall asleep and it's driving me crazy. Does anybody have any advice or encouragement?

grpman · Mar 10, 2012

Ambien.