Sarah,

What you're experiencing is what we all have gone through (Okay, I'm not getting pregnant, but my lady and I are planning on having children.) However, my fear is that I will pass on my anxiety to my children, which would suck. I'm on meds as I stated before, but that won't stop me from enjoying life. One day, I'll be off of them. I need them today so I can live with it.

My point of all this is you need to focus one day at a time, and then go from there. There are podcasts and iTunes that can help you to relax and sleep. I would know because it helped me get over my sleep issues a few years back. I was actually afraid to fall asleep!!!! For what reason? Not sure why. I just felt I would miss something. I tried to stay up, but in the end, I would pass out. I would sleep for a good 6-8 hours. Eventually, that fear dissipated. It just went away. Have I been insomnia free since? Not at all. A few months ago, I couldn't sleep one night. Stayed up, read my kindle, and went to work. I struggled through the day, but I worked out, which gave me the energy to stay awake until I got home that night. I went home, ate dinner, and then fell asleep. A few years back, a night of insomnia would drive me crazy. Today, I just say "well, no sleep tonight, but I will get some good sleep tomorrow night." I don't fear it. Your body has to shut down to rest, and it will do so on its own (which is what happened in my case.)

Don't let something that feels "abnormal" break you. Educate yourself about all the things an anxious person will face, and then believe in it. Understand the rollercoaster of emotions you'll go through and just accept it. A night of insomnia is better than a week of insomnia, which a few of my friends are dealing with (they do not have anxiety by the way.) What they told me is until they can recover from what they're going through, they'll just enjoy the time they are awake.

Before I go, I do want to mention that I do have sleeping pills just in case. My doctor ordered them for me because he knows I need my rest in regards to anxiety. I've taken them a couple of times, especially when I went east for training. Jetlag sucks, so I did what I had to, but I got the rest I needed.

Stay the course, keep your head up, and remember that we are a team of anxious people who will one day overcome our nightmare. Until then, we will look out for one another.

Peace and Calm,
Arturo

I have a lot fear trying to go on any anti-anxiety meds. I dont like the side effects. So far xanax is the only things that works for me. However do any of you know of herbal treatments if they work ? I bought something call True Calm by NOW and it has things like B6 and Inostoil and Valergian in it all herbal and I am wondering if anyone has tried this route. My doc. gave me prozac to try but I see and stare at the bottle wondering about taking it and its in capsule form and I hate to swallow pills. I have had pills be stuck before so I fear them as well. I am so glad I found this member site because Paul seems to know what I am feeling and even with all my other things I have tried it now makes more sense. I have done meditation, hypontherapy, xanax, all kinds of tools.. Claire weeks.. which all has been helpful but info. over load and I have notice how Paul way of explaining this is plain and simple and doesnt sound soo bad. I also have social anxiety and tend to avoid alot of things ..