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No sleep

Posted , 7 users are following.

puzzler123
puzzler123

Nearly 2 years ago I suffered with big time stress. And since then I have not slept one wink of natural sleep. And only a handful of times with drugs.i have had all the tablets for sleeping you can think of but nothing works. I have had loads of different tablets for anxiety but again they don't work. It seems that I am stuck in fight or flight mode and on constant alert all the time. Has any one else suffered from this or knows an answer

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • nathan72763
    nathan72763 puzzler123

    Posted

      Yes me exactly i was 30 when it started i didnt sleep for 3 weeks and almost died the fear of not sleeping has followed me through my life like a dragon. I completely understand. I my case it was stress in childhood.

    im terrified of everything. You can get help for everything in the nhs but not insomnia and sleeping pill addiction. Ive seen dozens of  complimentory therapists too.

  • paul_33483
    paul_33483 puzzler123

    Posted

    I have suffered from this and know exactly what you're going through.

    For 2 years I haven't been sleeping properly. Through stress and anxiety. I didn't think it was stress and it wasn't after I'd had every test/scan done that I found out that it is stress.

    I've been given tablets that help but they don't fix the problem. I was diagnosed at a sleep clinic with having hyper-vigilance- where my mind won't switch off at night. Like stuck in fight or flight.

    I was told CBT through a psychologist will help. I'm seeing a psychologist already and the CBT helps. It externalises the worries and then your brain thinks the issue has been resolved.

    The main thing is to sort out what's worrying you. If it's something that can't change then how you deal with it/think about it must.

    It's important to know that worrying can cause significant mental/physical distress. I had extreme back pain as a result.

    I find mindfulness and meditation along with doing yoga and running beneficial.

    If you're really stressed, like I was, no amount of drugs will help sad

    • nathan72763
      nathan72763 paul_33483

      Posted

      I never thought cbt or mindfullness ever helped me neither did eft hypnotherepy etc. Its about thinking about not sleeping. Ive been like this for years and thinking about it gives the problem energy. People who sleep well on ie concrete 😖 Dont think about it. They drop off anywhere all my friends do. Ive been in a lnely place for years. Im glad you found the answer Paul theres hope then.

    • paul_33483
      paul_33483 nathan72763

      Posted

      There is hope for you. I had stress through family problems, work, health anxiety. All these things made me stressed and caused sleep problems. I'm not fully "cured" but a lot better.

      When I do CBT I write down my thoughts, feelings, physical symptoms etc and analyse them. But it's the writing them down that externalises them and that seems to allow my brain to move on. With mindful meditation the breathing really helps me. Both of these took time though, it wasn't a quick fix.

      When I had anxiety I was hyperventilating, I couldn't lay still. I was thinking about not being able to sleep. The mirtazapine I would normally take just wouldn't do anything.

      I know what you mean about not treating insomnia on NHS.

    • paul_33483
      paul_33483 puzzler123

      Posted

      Mirtazapine- 15mg then 7.5mg

      It actually helps you sleep more the lower dose you take. This definetly helped me

  • puzzler123
    puzzler123

    Posted

    Its like you are stuck in a circle of no sleep gives you anxiety and anxiety

    stops you from sleeping.the trouble is i have gone so long without

    sleep my brain thinks it is the norm. How do you break that circle?

    How do you stop this fight and flight/being on high alert all the time?

    Like i said i have tried all manner of drugs i also have had cbt,cbti, hypno,

    Seen loads of different doctors, nothing seems to be working.

    • paul_33483
      paul_33483 puzzler123

      Posted

      Have you had your cortisol levels tested? Making sure your body isn't actually stuck on fight or flight.

      This may sound stupid but do you do any aerobic exercise?

    • paul_33483
      paul_33483 puzzler123

      Posted

      I've sent you a message with a link but it's being moderated.

      It's for Edinburgh sleep centre. Just google it

  • borderriever
    borderriever puzzler123

    Posted

    Puzzler

    Talk to your GP and see if you can be seen at a sleep clinic, that may help.

    I use Relaxation Techniques to sleep, just to relax me down from awake. Mindfulness may help you discuss this with your GP it may be a positive way forward.

    Mindfulness is a life changer and deals with various situations in life

    BOB

  • ann72524
    ann72524 puzzler123

    Posted

    Yes and it sucks. Don't know what to do about it, bags under eyes.

  • thisismylife
    thisismylife puzzler123

    Posted

    I stopped sleeping after becoming very ill and taken off all my pharmaceutical drugs which I was on for about 20 years. I only sleep about 1 hour a night and have electrical pains everywhere. I'm completely bedridden now and don't know what to do anymore. Nothing helps at this point and anything I take just makes it worse and drops my oxygen. I understand. Wish I had an answer. 

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