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Posted 2/11/2017 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi - Haven't posted here in a while, mostly on depression, fibro boards. But reading all your experiences has helped me feel less alone with my anxiety. SC, how you handled you panic attack gave me such hope!

I have had trouble sleeping for about a year now. I have tried meditation (online), binaural beats, podcasts, you name it. Trying different meds for sleep with poor results. I was up most of last night again and I feel like I can hardly function. Not sleeping makes me feel off - like I am continually coming down with something.

I can't put my finger on what is bothering me. It started when we were going to move cross country, the we did move, now we have been settled for about 6 months. And I still am awake most nights at 3:30, after it has taken me an hour or more to get to sleep. Ugh!

Sorry for the rant. Just wondering if anyone has been through this and found a solution.

Thanks
Posted 2/11/2017 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hope and welcome back!

I am glad that you have started to settle after making your move! I remember that when we bought our new house a few years ago, it did take a while for me to feel completely able to sleep soundly again...

...but after 6 months, yeah, I can imagine you are ready for a thorough night's sleep!

Sometimes it's just a matter of finding the right combination for yourself...and that takes some trial and error.

Keeping a journal of what you tried together may help.

Physical exercise (though not too close to bedtime) powering down blue screen devices a couple of hours before bedtime...and other natural supplements such as Valerian Root and L-Theanine are things that I didn't see on your 'tried' list. How about progressive muscle relaxation and other coping skills just before bedtime?

I hope you can try some new techniques that will bring you success...

...or even make a winning new combo out of some previously explored tools.

Wishing you the rest you need!

S.C.
Posted 2/12/2017 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi H4
You are not alone I'm also awake after 3am. Thanks SC I'm going to do the same.
Posted 2/12/2017 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks SC and Prew -

I will look into the herbals. Will have to cross check them with meds, though.
I know, unfortunately that I am not alone I this. In fact, sometimes in the early morning hours I think of all those in similar situations and say a little prayer for us all.
Posted 2/13/2017 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
hope- i also awake most nites at 3am or so. try 3-6 mg of melantonian and 500mg of valarian root together. works almost always for me and dosnt interfear with most other meds
Posted 2/13/2017 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks super20dan--
Do you take the herbs when you wake up at 3:00, or before bedtime? (Maybe a silly question?)
Posted 2/13/2017 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
i take them after i awake at 3am and cant fall back asleep. usually works with in 45 min to an hour. beats taking a perscription sleeping pill. most otc herbal sleep aids have my combo in them as ingredients. you can buy these sepertatly and combine them in one dose and save a ton of $
Posted 2/16/2017 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, superdan, I will try it.
Posted 2/16/2017 5:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Hope, a few years back I suffered from an extended period of not being able to sleep...it was really bad as my anxiety/panic was running pretty much unabated. Not sure if you ever tried trazodone, but my doc put me on it and I was finally able to break the cycle.

Hang in there! smile
Posted 2/16/2017 6:28 AM (GMT 0)
I hear you cowboy. My depression is bad and anxiety worse because of job hours are down . Hang in there. My doctor gave me 20pmg trazadone to help me sleep. That works. But my zoloft only helps with anxiety. I need a depression drug that works with the other two. I hate pills. I know I need them. What this gs do you Like? What things make you calm. Close your eyes and picture yourself in a safe place. Now lay down there and take a nap until morning. Sometimes this helps me. Good luck
Posted 2/17/2017 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
Hope,

I have recently run into trouble with sleeping due to my anxiety. I have posted a few times about this and I'm going to keep repeating myself because I honestly think its the best solution for insomnia (and have had several doctors confirm this), which is basically CBT for insomnia. I have been working through the book "Quite Your Mind and Get to Sleep" and so far it has been really good. Some of the things SC mention are talked about in this book and more. Its fairly inexpensive on Amazon.

I was experiencing nights and nights with little to no sleep which sent my anxiety through the roof. I couldn't concentrate, could barely eat, I was crying a lot and felt like I was going to never sleep and die because of it. For me, following this book along with anxiety medication has stabilized me and I'm sleeping pretty well lately and I don't even need anything to help me sleep! My personal goal is to build really good sleeping habits while medication keep my anxiety under control and once that problem is solved I can move on to improving my anxiety management abilities.

Fully implementing the strategies in the book can be hard and daunting and your sleep may even get a little worst at first but I encourage you to stick with it.

Wishing you all peaceful nights!
Posted 2/18/2017 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your ideas.
Been sleeping better the past few days -- will keep these ideas in mind if insomnia comes back. (I hope not!)
Posted 2/19/2017 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hope,

I also hope it doesn't! I am so glad you are having a better time with the sleep now...yay! smile

Wishing you continued progress!

S.C.
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