Anyone on antidepressants and/or anti anxiety meds?

It's a bit of the chicken or the egg you're arguing. I do not believe disrupted sleep causes depression or anxiety problems, but I do believe that many people who suffer from sleep difficulties are experiencing depression or anxiety.

As to those "depression/stress cases" being "psychosomatic," I'm unsure what you are saying. My understanding of calling something psychosomatic would be where a physical manifestation was observed that sprung from a purely psychological cause.

As someone who has beaten back against the stigma of depression for 20 years, perhaps I am a bit thin-skinned and reactionary when I see folks advise that the despair and anxiety you are feeling is caused by a lack of sleep. Dealing with depression has been the single biggest challenge of my life. Many days I am, frankly, surprised that I triumphed, but I surely would not have triumphed had I not pursued health by seeking out counseling and medication -- to the tune, I am sure, of many, many thousands of dollars. It should definitely be diagnosed by a physician and/or psychiatrist, I agree.

Depression is a veritable hell on Earth. It would be fabulous if sleeping better cured it. Unfortunately, all too often depressed people are told to snap out of it (or get more sleep), which not only doesn't make their depression better, it makes them feel like a failure that they cannot actually pull themselves out of their depressed state. At least that's been my experience.

Thanks Marty -- right on the mark as always. We are a team, battling for the same win -- remission. Whatever helps us to help us towards winning that battle is different for everyone, but we must remain a team.

I kid you guys not, try saint johns wort. Do not get it in the capsule or pill form though. Go to your local health food store and buy the pure chopped herb itself, about $2 an ounce from where im from. take one or two small pinches a day, not too much or you will feel a bit edgy. It is powerful and all you need is very small pinches, chew it in your mouth and chase it with water, doesnt taste real great, a bit bitter but ohwell, I have found it works better if you chew it. I have battled severe depression for more than 10 years and have tried many different things and nothing worked except for this and it works wonders. You are going to have to experiment with it to try to find the right dosage for you, after experimenting with it for a while you will get a feel for how big of pinches you need. Start with very small pinches and increase dosage if needed, but if you start feeling edgy or cant think clearly reduce your dosage a bit till you find the sweet spot but once you find the sweet spot its great stuff. I say not to buy the capsules because It is really important to find the sweet spot with it and with the capsules its too easy to get way to much in your system and it can make you feel weird and possibly more depressed if you get too much in your system. If you try this and if it helps any of you please let me know because it has really helped me after I figured out there is a sweet spot and im curious to know if it helps others too. thanks

And one more thing. when I was depressed I found it hard to be around people, felt like I had social anxiety or something and felt paranoid in crowds of people but this has helped that tremendously also.

 

Post Edited (Cfromutah) : 12/19/2007 10:27:13 PM (GMT-7)

Just remember that excessive sleeping can be indicative of depression or high anxiety (as a response to either). Excessive sleeping can also encourage depression for those prone to it). Excessive sleeping can also make one feel more lethargic and more tired....seems a fine line of too much or too little.

q

ColonPow,  I'm not sure if the insomnia is menopausal (I don't have experience with that yet) but I do know I have the same trouble staying asleep and my meds are helping (the Xanax namely).  I used to wait for the newspaper to come so I had something to do!  I often have trouble in the mornings too.  My colon would wake up like 5 minutes after my eyes opened!  I'm not sure what would help.  I'd use a heating pad sometimes.  I also drank tea every AM on the way to my old job and that seemed like it helped.  I hope you have good luck with Remicade.  It was a miracle for me.  I think I had extenuating circumstances that contributed to my failing it eventually.  So, I wish you luck and I hope you can find some solutions! :) I always get good advice from the people on this site... I hope I can help contribute myself!

Becky