Anyone Had Sleep Anxiety? If you overcame it, how?

@daisy17 Here is an update of my journey with insomnia. It was related to fibromyalgia, which was triggered by Covid in 2021.

In early 2025, I started taking LDN low-dose naltrexone for my fibromyalgia. I got my prescription from a pain clinic but since learned that my GP will prescribe it. It takes a few months to get from the starting dose to the maintenance dose. Within six months, I started noticing improvement in my pain levels and sleep issues. By the end of the year, my pain and insomnia issues were resolved.

You have to get it from a compounding pharmacy and it's not covered by insurance. The maintenance dose is usually 4.5mg/day. You have to start at a low dose and build up to 4.5mg/day. Then it can take several weeks to notice improvement. Most people have no negative side effects (I haven't noticed any.)

Here is one article about it now naltrexone can help with sleep: https://neurolaunch.com/naltrexone-and-sleep/

Have you tried CBT-I? Wondering if other people have a favorite app

@sleepygoose Yes, I went through a six-week course offered by Pacific Integrative Therapy. It has helped a lot. They help you think of sleep differently. It is expensive, but I felt it was worth the money. I learned how to relax about sleep, that it is something you ALLOW to happen. They emphasize living your values (volunteer work, education through reading, or maybe you just want to do nothing). They do lots of educating about sleep so that you know how it works.

I have sleep anxiety after a lifetime of RLS. I took a 6 week course with Somly, it was pretty good. Now I take Belsomra, a half dose.

Does anyone else have trouble getting to sleep when they have been out in the evening - even with the best of friends, and in calming situations? I find myself struggling to get to sleep if I stay out past 9 pm. I end up taking a med to get to sleep, which I hate to do. What is your go-to for calming down after an evening of social activity?

Questions -
How is the rest of your day?
How much coffee do you drink or have after 2pm?
What is your age?
Are you able to sleep by 9 if you don’t go out?

I drink chamomile tea every night before bed. I sleep just fine.

Be careful of labels, which only adds confusion. I have no idea what sleep anxiety means but if you tell a doctor, he/she will give you meds if this is the ultimate goal.

Hi @judybradford - I moved your message to join this discussion, to bring together members talking about sleep anxiety and how to manage that:

- Anyone Had Sleep Anxiety? If you overcame it, how?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sleep-anxiety/

I see that you have participated in this discussion before, and I believe this is a great place to connect with others in a similar situation. Glad you had the chance to connect with @malebreastcancer47. Fellow members such as @mikayla68 @sleepygoose @daisy17 and others may have additional input for you as you look for solutions to trouble falling asleeep after being out with friends or staying out past 9 p.m.

Having trouble getting to sleep is rough, especially if you really need that sleep for the next day.

You mentioned you've ended up taking medication to sleep in these instances, judybradford. Have you tried any other calming techniques to try to get some sleep?

Yes, I have tried breathing, yoga, doing simple needlework or crocheting, slow walking. But my CBT-I counselor said my brain was likely interpreting those activities as "effort," so I switched to just watching a football game on TV with teams I don't care about, which has worked in the past but sometimes doesn't. I think what I experience with late-night social outings is that it makes my brain hyper-aroused, even when I am with friends. What I need to do is have at least 90 minutes of not talking to anyone (my husband not included) before trying to sleep. It just irks me that I have to be dead-tired and nodding off to even consider going to bed. I talk to other people who can sleep when they're just sleepy, not dead-tired.

@lisalucierI have sleep insomnia, i’m not sure it’s anxiety. I can’t sleep without medication and I hate taking this medication. i wish i could find away without medication. I feel like it anxiety now because i’m trying not to take the medication.

@judybradford
I have just been through 2 major surgeries in the last 8 months. It's been extremely difficult to fall asleep. I found that after 9, I can't watch TV or do anything that taxes my brain. I get in bed and read for about 20 min; when I start to feel drowsy, I put on YouTube and play a video of natural rainfall. I find it very soothing. It will play for hours without interruption. Also, there are calming videos of ocean waves. Also, maybe have a cup of green tea before bed, or your favourite warm drink. I hope this helps.