Posted by jay on August 29, 2002, at 16:10:26
In reply to lack of sleep , posted by janejj on August 29, 2002, at 14:50:50
> Hi,
>
> I am so tired today. I have been finding it hard to get to sleep recently. The trouble is when I don't sleep my anxiety and depression get severe.
>
> I was previously taking Trazodone for sleep. It helped, apart from the annoying fluttering heart side effect, but I decided I just wanted to take one drug at a time. So currently I am just taking Prozac and the occasional Lorazepam.
>
> The thing is I am going to be travelling with work alot soon, for up to 6 months and i'm not going to be able to get into a proper sleep routine. I hope i don't have some kind of anxious break down. I don't understand people who can get 3 hrs sleep a night and feel great. People don't understand why i am so moody and withdrawn when I'm tired and it stresses me out so much.
>
> Right now I have chronic heart burn and most annoyingly I have had to listen to construction for the last 2 yrs starting at 6.30 am every morning. I am at my wits end right now. Why can't they just take their stupid cranes and get lost. There should be some legislation about construction in densly residential areas! I am sure its contributing to my depression.
>
> Sorry for my rant I am just so anxious, i look like crap, I feel like a faliure and well I wish i could just escape all of this !!!
>
> JanejjOK...I have had the same problem..many times for a long time. I hope some of my experience can help you.
Much of our worry about sleep is what causes our insomnia. I have found you could gulp back sleeping pills, and still no sleep. There *is* a way to survive this..and this is coming from one of the worlds major insomniacs! One thing I have learn't..this may take a bit of 'short-term' pain..and the 'short-term' may hurt, but it won't kill you...far from it. You will have lots of support with my med ideas below.
About your heartburn...can you either get Zantac or Rolaids to take PRN? (Zantac just tends to work longer.) Zantac taken in the evening can keep your digestive system feeling nice and, errr, 'relaxed' for over 12 hours...of course including while you sleep.
Second, can you get a good amount of benzos to take say in the early part of your evening? An hour or two after supper helps wind the body down.
You can then taper slowly down as you get a bit better adjusted.Next..say for even a week...try and get yourself out of bed earlier and earlier. The trick is not to make yourself too over-tired, and that is where a benzo would help say just after supper. (You honestly might want to consider a few glasses of wine also..as many people in Europe drink wine every night with a meal.)
If you always have a hard time getting out of bed...I found a good combo is both Welbutrin WITH a small benzo. Reason being, the benzo might do away with some of the 'fears' of getting out of bed.
Try and keep the same schedule...no late nights and early mornings. You can get by on 7 hours of sleep if needed, so if you miss an extra hour, it is ok.
Also, I have found PRN (*not* everyday) melatonin is good if taken a bit earlier in the evening. Like, say an hour-two before you plan to go to bed. Do some reading..relaxation...keep yourself 'cool' (I find lots of fans, even in the winter, needed...)
Let me know what you think..ok?
Best..
Jay
poster:jay
thread:118153
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020829/msgs/118160.html