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How you overcame your sleeping problems?

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Posted 8/12/2011 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
For just about a week now i been having a lot of sleep trouble. And it just seems like i'll never overcome them. I have anxiety problems at the moment so this is freaking me out. I keep constantly thinking about it and it scares me into staying awake. Its so hard not to think about it. And i know freaking out makes it worse. My doctor put me on celexa for the anxiety so i'm pretty sure that's causing it. It started a day or two before i started taking Celexa so i'm a bit confused about that. So any helpful tips on fixing this? What did you do to overcome your sleeping troubles and how long did it last for you? Just hearing other peoples story's and knowing that it will eventually go away makes me feel a lot better and calms me down. Thanks in avance
Posted 8/12/2011 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hello ZS and welcome to HealingWell,

If you're an anxious person, chances are you also experience sleeping problems from time to time. Depending on individual anxiety levels and environmental stressors in your life, the natural sleep process can be easily disturbed by stressful events which, in turn, lead to further stress and fatigue.

When sleep problems occur it is very easy to slip into  pattern of worrying at the end of each day about whether sleep will come easily or will elude you till the wee hours. Worrying about your ability to sleep can set off a surge of adrenalin throughout the body, which effectively primes the body for action and has the unwanted side effect of keeping you awake.

Realizing at 1am that you are wide awake and unable to sleep and then worrying further will result in wave after wave of adrenalin being released into the bloodstream. This perpetuates the inability to sleep and keeps you super-alert. This effect is worsened if you have consumed caffeine in the form of coffee, tea, chocolate or cola in the six hours prior to going to bed.

6 years ago I was that person worrying at the end of the day about whether or not I would be able to sleep and I got to the point where nothing worked until my psychiatrist started me on Trazodone 50mg - 150mg at bedtime.  This works like a charm for me.  I never worry anymore.  Whether it is a crutch for me or the medication it is working and I feel 100% better.

Medication is not for everyone.  Herbal remedies may be useful in many situations. Where anxiety about sleeping is severe, medication may be required in the short term. I would return to your Dr. and discuss how you are feeling and also the Celexa concerns you have.

I wish you well,

Kitt

 

Posted 8/12/2011 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Z and welcome! Yes, I hear you...in fact I've been up since before 5 a.m. myself...

Sleeping problems definitely go along with anxiety. I personally can fall asleep, but tend to wake up, then can't go back to sleep. For me, staying in bed, tossing and turning just makes it worse. I try to get up and occupy myself with a distracting activity. If I need to, I just catch up on the lost sleep by going to bed earlier the next night.

Kitt gave you some good advice, so talk to your dr. about possible solutions. If you want to go the natural route, ask him/her about Melatonin and/or Gaba. (these can be found at the heath food store, but you need to check all suppliments with your dr. for drug interactions.)

Also try getting some good heart pumping exercise during the day. This will help in your over-all stress reduction and help promote good sleep. Just make sure that like all stimulating activities (includine t.v. and computer time) you give yourself a couples of hours between them and bedtime!

Good luck with this, and let us know how you are doing soon. Again, welcome and please post anytime with questions or sharing...we are here to listen and support:)

Scaredy Cat
Posted 8/13/2011 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Z, I used to fall asleep ok but then wake up a dozen times a night....I take a herbal sedative each night and I do a relaxation tape before I go to bed...your body might settle down once you have been on your tablets for a bit longer but if your still having trouble sleeping maybe have a talk to your dr about getting something...unfortunately anxiety and sleeping problems go hand in hand....best wishes to you shannon
Posted 8/13/2011 6:32 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Z ..my biggest problem is getting to sleep, my head just races and races with things I need to do, or just silly things. I eventually went on medication that took some time to take affect, about six weeks..I take xanex to sleep. I am doing much better now..the advice given was great, I personally would love to go more natural, but for now I am doing what I have to..
Posted 8/13/2011 6:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hey lasardo, I say whatever it takes to get us thru is good either natural remedies or traditional ones....sleep is the bodies way of recharging it's batteries and if we don't sleep we start the day half drained already, and with being anxious we burn up a lot more energy than other people....well that's my rant on sleeping...lol.... rolleyes Best wishes shannon
Posted 8/13/2011 12:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Z,
Sorry that I can't offer you much advise about your sleeping issue, but I copied this from you post....."Just hearing other peoples story's and knowing that it will eventually go away makes me feel a lot better and calms me down."

What a great powerful statement!.....It's something that brings you comfort, hope and strength. Certainly a corner stone to be able to build from. Good luck my friend, best wishes for a recovery for you!
Benny
Posted 8/16/2011 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, I'm new here. I was looking for help with my sleep as well but its real strange. Had a bad last year with divorce and all. I have 3 kids full time and work. Every night when I try to sleep i cant fall asleep or I do but only for a little while. There was abuse involved with my separation for several yrs. In the end I got up and left with the kids. Now I keep having these thoughts of having to stand guard over my children but they were not the ones abused. I was. I see and hear everything all over again. Sometimes I wake up in a panic cause everything is so vivid in my "Dreams". I dont take any meds and I stay away from them. I do have a close friend that talks me through but it has gotten alot worse in the last year and I cant shake it even though we have a new life and my wife is now out of the picture. I just cant find the solution. People have told me just to move on, I really have tried. Work, school, family, worship, hobby, exercise. I've done everything required but the images and more just never leave. Not quite sure what to do to make it all stop. I manage to sleep 2-4 hrs everything and this catches up to me. I do have a history of depression but have always controlled it with diet and exercise. Even this doesn't make it go away. It gets worse when I'm alone. Kids went on trip for vacation. I haven't slept in 2 days. Real tired but scared to shut my eyes cause it all comes back. This makes it worse cause even when I'm lying there the images dont go away. I read alot, run my own business, just dont really talk to anyone about it. Isolating isnt good either but right now left with little choice. So I thought to just get on here and see if talking it through would help. Mahalo.
Posted 8/16/2011 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome to HealingWell Epiphany041

I am so sorry to read that you have been in an abusive relationship and I suspect you may have some PTSD sx.  For you I think your inablilty to fall asleep results from deeper feelings.

PTSD manifests itself as increased awareness and hypersensitivity. For example:

  1. difficulty falling or staying asleep
  2. irritability or outbursts of anger
  3. difficulty concentrating
  4. hypervigilance
  5. exaggerated startle response

PTSD is usually treated with a combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy. This includes Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which involves exploring thoughts and feelings about the trauma in order to deal with the symptoms of PTSD. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is another form of therapy that works well for some survivors. This therapy involves talking about the trauma while doing body movements, such as moving your eyes or tapping with your hand.

May I kindly recommend your seeking out professional help in working through your problems.  We are here to support you and to share with you but I am worried about you and would like to see you reach out to a therapist.

There is a free online version of CBT, the Mood GYM, and here is the link:

http://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome

Also feel comfortable starting a thread of your own so you can post issues that are specific to your problems and we won't be  highjacking  Zabstract's thread.  That way we all get a chance to meet and greet you.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 8/17/2011 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
purplesky46

Great post and you are a strong person.  I have the same dx. as you do.

Blessings,

Kitt

Posted 8/18/2011 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Zabstract,

When I was Inpatient last year for the first time they tried Depakote (didn't like and immediately stopped) & Trazadone. Before leaving the Hospital my Psychiatrist suggested I add Melatonin with the Trazadone. I have taken the Trazadone then stopped because of nightmares, then started again as the no sleep was causing me more problems. So now I am currently taking 100mg of trazadone, Visteril 100mg, & ran out of melatonin so need to go buy more. I buy the 3mg & use 1-3 tabs.

My 16 year old daughter struggles terribly with insomnia.She can't sleep at night at all & waits till morning, then sleeps all day. Its terrible...She has an appt. with our primary Dr. for next week to see what he can do for her.

Wishing only the best for you. Keep us posted on what you end up doing?
Your Healingwell Friend,
Serenitee

Bipolar 2, Borderline, Anxiety/Panic Disorder, Ptsd.
ileostomy May 2011, Pelvic/Bladder Trauma & Dysfunction, Major pelvic surgeries...total 15-surgeries various ones & another one coming up to make my ileostomy permanent.
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