Sleep

I am having a depression related sleep problem.  I fall asleep easily around ten but wake up between 2 and 4 AM.   This morning I was in the middle of an anxious dream when I woke up.  I usually tell myself to stay in my dream, but I wanted to be rid of the dream.  If I just lie there I will start ruminating about whatever is making me feel neurotic.  Instead of continuing to ruminate I got my ear buds and put on a movie I seen before and just listened without looking at the screen.   My granddaughter’s illness, she was born 5 months ago and is still in the infant ICU, has taken its toll on me.  She was doing really well, and we expected her to come home last Monday.  But she had a relapse.  While she is now on the mend, I am very disappointed she was not able to come home for Christmas.  This long term anxiety around her health has made me so jumpy during the day I have started listening to books to distract myself, because I can not concentrate enough to read a book. I hope this is temporary!  I’ll add that I am surprised that I have dealt with the terrible anxiety that my granddaughter condition has engendered as well as I have.  I just need to remember this anxious situation is far from over, and I need to be kind to myself and ever vigilant that my disease could cause my state of mind to deteriorate.