[Debbie]

Hi there,
I have had severe anxiety based insomnia for over a year now. It was caused by side effects from an osteoporosis drug that I was given. I have had 14 drugs prescribed during the course of a year. None of which worked. I weaned myself off all of them except for Halcion which I use every third night. I have severe hyper arousal and I am wondering whether it’s possible to get my sleep back. I never feel sleepy, can’t nap and just feel exhausted. My sleep neurologist wants me to start cognitive behavioral therapy which I began last night. It wasn’t easy but I understand the logic behind it and I am willing to persevere. Thank you for adding me to your forum, Debbie

[SergioRenato7]

I’m in a similar situation to you. Hyperarousal seems to be behind the cause of my insomnia but I don’t thinking I’m suffering to the same extent as you. I find myself waking up multiple times a night during dreaming but dreams are rarely bad or scary. I have tried CBT but with no success. It may work for you though. I tried meditation for 2 months but that didn’t work either, however, I did have a lot of things going on at that time. So I’m planning on meditating twice a day for 15-20 mins and also trying to be mindful throughout the day. I have seen a lot of studies that show meditation to be effective in normalising the sleep of PTSD patients. So maybe you could try give that a go if CBT doesn’t workout or you could do it along side CBT. Just a suggestion though.

[Martin Reed]

I’m glad to hear you are giving cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) a try, Debbie — I am sure you will find it helpful. It should certainly help reduce the negative effect of hyperarousal on sleep.

Are you seeing a therapist face-to-face? Are you going through CBT for insomnia (CBT-I), or generalized CBT? If you are struggling with sleep issues caused by insomnia, it’s important to pursue techniques specific to CBT-I.

—

If you are ready to stop struggling with insomnia you can enroll in the online insomnia coaching course right now! If you would prefer ongoing phone or video coaching calls as part of a powerful three month program that will help you reclaim your life from insomnia, consider applying for the Insomnia Mastery program.

The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

[Author]

Posts