Posted by Simcha on February 24, 2002, at 14:07:03
In reply to Help! Need advice on being afraid to go to sleep, posted by genelowery on February 22, 2002, at 11:48:25
> I developed a problem with maintaining sleep. Sometimes I have trouble falling asleep or waking up and not being able to fall back to sleep. It has become so bad that I am now obsessing about my fears and I start to shudder when approaching the bedroom. I am currently on 20 mg of Celexa but this doesn't seem to help all that much.
> Thanks,
> Gene
Gene,When I was afraid of falling asleep it was because I had terrible nightmares. This caused severe, long-term insomnia. Things are much better today because I got to the root of the problem in psychotherapy.
I have read around here that sometimes it is best to start on the meds and immediately follow up with some sort of talk therapy. What I eventually had to face was that I was not "over" being sexually abused by a neighbor when I was four. And I was not "over" being physically, emotionally, and spiritually abused by my parents, teachers, and fellow students.
I'm still not "over" it. I had to go through all of the feelings associated with talking about all of it with a therapist I could trust. The only way I found was through it. It was a VERY rough ride without medication. I did not allow myself that help for at least a decade into the process. I believe that I suffered needlessly at times because I never addressed the chemical imbalance that I have.
I have progressed so much in a year since I started medication. It just makes everything run more smoothly. Therapy is much more productive too. I am able to get through things more like an adult than a cracked-four-year-old.
My suggestion would be to get the meds, certainly. AND do not ignore the issues that may be surrounding the pattern of being afraid to sleep. You might uncover some break-throughs. The meds might make that process a little easier to handle.
I'm on 40mg of Celexa/day, 100mg of WellbutrinSR/BID, and 1 mg of Klonopin at night before I go to bed. The Klonopin stops my teeth-grinding and it even helps me to put the troubles of the day away so that I fall asleep faster.
Take Care,
Remember, that these are only suggestions. Your mileage may vary.Simcha
poster:Simcha
thread:95099
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020222/msgs/95319.html