Dear Aislynn:

You are already applying different tools to manage and lessen your anxiety. Sometimes one thing works and at other times that same tool doesn’t work. For example, many times drinking your tea worked but not last night. But it doesn’t mean it will not help in the future, just not last night. When you gather different tools, it is like you are walking around anywhere you go with a box of tools and you use what you can use at any one time: tea when you are at home. Doesn’t work? Something else. You find yourself afraid of the dark? here is a simple tool: you turn on the lights. At any one point you want to use another tool about your fear of the dark and you are ready for it, you use another tool, like observing your fear (of the dark) from another angle, or another part of your brain, a calm part.

To practice the latest tool I suggested, start with a small fear and practice so you have the practice for a greater fear.

Regarding not sleeping at night, yes, I hate it too, actually I was awake last night a lot. Tools for sleeping, the exercise I mentioned, listening and focusing on sounds, paying attention to the physical sensations and observing how those change, changing bed/ moving to the sofa… different tools, different accommodations at different times. Experiment. What worked last night may not work tomorrow night… walk around with that box of tools and try different things.

anita