[sdaven02]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to introduce myself and share a little bit about where I’m coming from.

I’m 43 and for over 41 years, sleep was never a problem for me. About a year and a half ago, I experienced jet lag for the first time. This string of sleepless nights triggered sleep anxiety (no prior history of anxiety) and a snowball effect of insomnia followed. I eventually started taking Lunesta nightly, worked my way down from 3 mg to 1 mg, and just recently stopped it completely 10 days ago.

Since stopping, I’ve had more good nights than bad but the rough ones are still triggering. I’ve had the occasional night where sleep anxiety creeps back in and it takes me back to the beginning and I worry that I will always need a sleeping aid. Overall I’m feeling hopefully and try to focus on the good nights I have had.

I joined this forum because I’m looking for a positive space to connect with others who are also working toward recovery. I’d love to share progress, strategies, and encouragement along the way and confirm that the “ups and downs” after stopping Lunesta are normal.

Thank you all for the encouragement and guidance.

[believer123]

I’m not taking lunesta but am currently tapering off other medications. Posting regularly about my progress and ups and downs bc I think it’s important to show the journey! I wish I saw more of that on here tbh when it comes to seeing people’s progress with medications. Not quite at the same point as you just yet bc I’m doing an every other day taper and what I consider good is not what my final hope is for sleep (still fragmented, short, and nothing like my original sleep just yet) but every little step counts as a victory! Anyway here for sharing and support 🙂

[trailrunner85]

I am about the same age and so never had issues until about a year or so ago. I will tell you your story is inspiring to me… I have been taking an OTC sleep aid about 3-4 nights per week and I am struggling to just be done with it. 10 nights is awesome and shows some good discipline.

[sdaven02]

Thank you both. I still have a ways to go. Some bumpy nights have triggered my sleep anxiety again but from what I have read, that is to be expected. This forum has been really refreshing, a nice difference from the “doom and gloom” of other insomnia support chats I’ve read. Thanks for the support ♥️

[believer123]

Totally to be expected—my sleep therapist says it will look like a graph with steeps and lows before it starts to resemble a straight line 🩷 you’re supported here and not alone. Also agree this is a much more positive and supportive forum.

[sdaven02]

Sadly my hyper arousal and sleep anxiety have resurfaced. I began my 1mg of Lunesta again a few night ago with the goal of letting things calm down and trying a more gentle taper next time. First 3 nights were great Last night however I could not sleep at all, even with the Lunesta. I kept getting out of bed to go read which usually helps. It did not. My anxiety began. I took a Xanax, which I rarely do, and it didn’t help. I’m scared.

[trailrunner85]

They happen… I had a night of poor sleep also despite having a fantastic evening with friends. Take the good with the bad I suppose. Tonight is a new night and you will likely sleep well with the sleep drive last night added. I am remaining positive on my evening as well. And if its another rough night, so be it.

[sdaven02]

Thank you for the support. The sleepless nights are barrable, it’s the physical/emotional anxiety it creates that I find to be worse. I’ll continue to try and let it go and take each night as they comes 🤞

[Martin Reed]

It makes total sense that you don’t want to experience anxiety, @sdaven02. Not many of us do!

At the same time, your experience seems to suggest that anxiety is out of your control. It shows up when it chooses and there’s no way to directly and permanently delete it from your brain. No matter what, it always comes back.

If that’s the case, perhaps it’s the (understandable!) attempts to fight or avoid anxiety that might be making things more difficult — rather than the presence of anxiety itself.

What shows up for you when you read that?

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