when sleep won't come

[Guest guest]

I know this has been addressed recently but I could use some more insights as to

how to deal with the issue of anxiety preventing sleep. I usually don't have

sleep difficulties except when a bout of anxiety comes on. I am not very

accepting of this to say the least! I am going to explain how my day transpired

yesterday in hopes that some of you can give your world class advice as to how I

got hooked etc. I felt great yesterday headed to school. As I began to work with

students the anxiety came on with thoughts of " What if he quits doing what I am

asking him to do? I won't be able to handle it if the student misbehaves. I will

look like a failure if he doesn't do as I say " . I did to some degree recognize

that these were just thoughts, but good grief those are some real mood

busters!!!!! So the anxiety came on as well. I had some self-kindness going in

that I realized who wouldn't feel anxiety when the situation seemed so

threatening. But I also had the fix it mentality of " if I just could quit seeing

these kids in such a threatening way then everything would be alright " . I did at

least notice that I was wanting to struggle with and fix my thoughts rather than

accept them. I kept at it throughout the day and felt like I was a little

further along in using my ACT tools but when I went to bed everything seemed to

rear its head again and sleep was elusive. That is when I feel like anxiety is

so dangerous. That is when the vicious cycle begins for me, if I can't quit

being anxious , I can't sleep, if I can't sleep I can't quit feeling anxious and

can't function well. So this morning, I am taking a day off from school because

the lack of sleep has me feeling like I could not function well. I feel like I

have to be so " on " and together in my job. I am feeling like a failure at ACT

for doing this, but maybe I just need a day to sit on my hands! Thoughts?