Hi there,
I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced what I am going through. So a bit of background, I have always been like this since I was a kid. I now have generalized anxiety and panic disorder.
I am a overall healthy 26 year old female. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety and panic disorder about 5 years ago. I do not take medications because I am able to control them quite well over time with self-taught cognitive behavioral therapy.
I have always had sleeping issues for as long as I can remember. My dad said when I was a baby he would have to take me on car rides in my baby seat just so I'd fall asleep. My ex boyfriend when I was 20 would have to drive around with me in the passenger seat just so I'd get a decent sleep as well.
I am only able to sleep 8+ hours during the day and for some reason at night if I try to sleep for long periods of time, anything passed 4+ hours, I can't. I wake up every half hour and am very restless. I feel faint and brain fog if I get up to go to the bathroom. I do not feel refreshed or energized at all. If I do manage to sleep more then 4+ hours then I usually have some sort of horrible nightmare, usually consisting of ghosts or as some call them spirits. Can anyone relate? I feel like crap all the time. I've tried working night shifts and sleeping during the day but it made me very depressed and caused more anxiety. I LOVE the outdoors and nature and would just like to continue doing what I love without feeling exhausted and crappy doing it.
I should also mention that if I work a full-time job and work 40 hours a week my body will shut down. I can only manage part time work and can't seem to make it in every single day.
I am not low on vitamins, I have had multiple blood tests. I do not take medications. I have tried melatonin but it only worked for a week then stopped. Sorry this is so long, can anyone help ?