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Insomnia for 4 months not sure what's wrong with me...

Posted , 6 users are following.

edogg69220
edogg69220

Hi, I'm just reaching out to see if anyone has any thoughts of what may be wrong with me or if anyone has had or dealing with the same thing/similar as me?...since October 2017 one night I just couldn't sleep, and thought I just ate to late that night?, but here I am 4 months later and taking Lorazepan and Ambien before bed. I don't like taking meds, but had no choice. Many times those wouldn't even help, I have had 1 and 2 straight day's many times ( 1 three day's without sleep) since then. As of late I been getting 4-5hrs or so, but only with the consistent meds. So I have been to the Dr and a therapist, the Dr is not quite sure, tried me on Celexa and 4 day's in I about freaked out, so I stopped that. I have been taking the Lorazepan as needed, sometimes a half at work and half at night. He now proscribed Buspirone but I have yet to try it. They both think it is anxiety related, which I can see a bit, I've come to realize I am a worrier, but I feel I just like things going good and do everything I can to keep it that way.  So I will now tell you that I've been a drinker all my life and recently tried to quit last summer, due to thinking something was wrong with me( like liver/kidney's ), which I had been thinking for nearly two years while I was still drinking...this was a massive blow to me trying to quit, I felt pretty pathetic to say the least. I also felt no one really gave a crap, my wife, kids...I know they loved me, but I really wanted support. Kids have they're on thing going on I guess, so my wife was the main one. This went on for a few months into Sept where I felt there was no care about me at all, and when October came the sleepless nights came, and 13 day's in I still felt like she didn't care. Now I'm four months in and my health is worse, to many things to mention. I know I'm in the worst health ever, but I know sleep is a huge factor. Therapist said everything slowed down for me now that I had quit drinking, and now I notice a lot more then when I was drinking. I even went back to occasional drinking but found out I can't sleep at all when I do that, which is totally opposite then usual. So yeah my marriage isn't great but is that my whole problem?? or am I depressed, all anxiety? I also lost my father Jan 2017 a day before my bday, which most likely didn't help any of this. I'm not here to complain, I just want to sleep and get healthy, but I don't know what my problem is. ( I do have an appointment with a psychiatrist in Mar ) hoping though to hear from anyone that has an opinion as that's all it would be....

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • mary_ann03140
    mary_ann03140 edogg69220

    Posted

    Hi there:

    My story with regards to not sleeping for months mimics yours.  I also was given lorazapem (hate meds but like you was desperate).  I was also given zoloft. Hated that also and stopped both.  My doctor wants me to see a psychiatrist.  I have had a few stressful situations that I believe brought a lot of this on.  My mother has been in a nursing home and I am the main contact, got diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, etc.  Other ‘stuff’ also but those were the main issues.  You sound like you have had much more ‘stuff’ to deal with than me.  Losing your Dad alone is a hugh stressor.  I, like you, feel horrible health wise and I have always tried to stay healthy.  It’s a horrible thing to not sleep.  It affects everything.  I am now trying to take a more natural approach.  Taking magnesium, drinking warm milk before bed, listening to meditation, etc.  I prefer not take meds as every one comes with side effects however if this continues, I may have no choice.  Trying my dandest not to. Every night I pray for sleep. I wish you the best.  Please know that you are not alone.   

  • Sambo2901
    Sambo2901 edogg69220

    Posted

    I have suffered with insomnia for many years and finally sought help last September as my mood was becoming severely affected. I have been having CBT therapy and the Practitioner recommended the Calm app. This is a great app for relaxation but I found it did not help with my insomnia. She also recommended a book from the Overcoming series called Overcoming insomnia and sleep problems by Colin Espie. I ordered this promptly from Amazon as I was willing to give anything a try. This book has completely changed my mindset. I am no longer so hung up on my lack of sleep and can completely relate to many points the author raises. This guy is a Professor specialising in sleep problems and works with the sleep council so knows his stuff. It is a course based on CBT techniques so does take some work on your part but in my view well worth putting in the effort. I know this book will not help with the other issues you have going on but I believe that sleep is so crucial to ones mood in general that it may be an option worth exploring. Best wishes. 
    • mary_ann03140
      mary_ann03140 Sambo2901

      Posted

      Hi:  my lack of sleep is due to anxiety.  I believe anxiety over not sleeping!  Can this book help?  I am desperate for sleep!!!    Thank you.  
    • Sambo2901
      Sambo2901 mary_ann03140

      Posted

      I’m not sure, but it may be worth trying it. There is a series of Overcoming books & im sure there is an anxiety one so may be worth checking it out.

      Good luck & best wishes.

    • christine66659
      christine66659 mary_ann03140

      Posted

      I have insomnia at moment..and I know it’s anxiety related..got to the point we’re i hate going to bed..I will get a couple of nights of 3/4 hrs..then a nine hr then back to 2 it’s crazy...and it sucks been going on about a month..
  • Gareth51625
    Gareth51625 edogg69220

    Posted

    I had major problems not sleeping last year from September until late November - I was having 3 or 4 nights a week with no sleep at all, after 2 bad nights in row back in September I quickly developed sleep anxiety and would dread going to bed and then toss and turn for hours, so my anxiety over poor sleep spiralled out of control.

    Things have got better since December and every night now I get between 5 and 7 hours each night, I sometimes wake up in the night once or twice but I can usually get back to sleep quickly and I feel better in the daytime like I have actually slept well and have lots of energy. I'm not tossing and turning for hours or all night. Late last year I felt terrible and lacked energy through very poor sleep. For me I just got to the point of not caring whether I slept or not and this seemed to lessen the anxiety so I started to sleep better, the more I freaked out about not sleeping the worse my sleeping was. My doctor was right in saying it's all in the mind, the more you worry about sleeping you won't sleep. I've also done other things like doing relaxation techniques and going to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time early in the morning.

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