Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Welcome to the group, restless sheep! This is a great, friendly group. You'll find lots of sympathy and understanding here, as well as a few suggestions, as I have. Don't be afraid to vent or ask questions. Welcome!
Michelle
'jitterbug36' wrote on '04:No, I don't have a doctor that knows anything about long-term consequences of benzos. It's pretty discouraging. I do have some online friends who are going through the same thing, though, so that helps.
Michelle, thank you for the welcome, I appreciate it.
I struggle with horrible anxiety too. I've been through pretty much every SSRI on the market and most of the Benzos. After ten years of experimentation I'm finally getting some relief and a sense of normalcy from the Luvox (fluvoxamine maleate) I'm being prescribed for my anxiety and OCD. Other than a couple unpleasant side effects, I feel much more like a normal person. Far less of the high-strung basket case I was two years ago. Have faith that someday you'll find YOUR perfect medicine.
Just wanted to welcome you to the group, Jitterbug!
I know where you're coming from with the benzo withdrawal. I myself have a slight dependence on Ativan. Whether I want to or not, I have to take one every night before bed because my body now demands it, I suppose it could be worse, but it bothers me that I'm “required” to ingest a chemical to keep from feeling sick.
You'll find a lot of understanding and sympathy here on this site, if nothing else. Most of us have not figured out how to “cure” our insomnia, but I've received many good suggestions in the short time I've been a member, and it also really helps me mentally to know that I'm not alone in my misery… This is a great group. Welcome!
Michelle
I had a wonderful and unexpected 6 night run of 6+ hours of solid sleep during the past week! I felt amazing and productive and NORMAL during the day! Tonight I was ripped out of a solid sleep at 1am by a horrible nightmare and have been unable to fall back asleep since. I guess I should be thankful for all the sleep I did manage to get in the past week.
It does suck. I did all of my chores yesterday morning, went to lunch with my boyfriend and his father and then around 4 drifted off into a lovely peaceful sleep which was interrupted an hour later by my boyfriend and oldest daughter who were both very irritated to find me sleeping during the day, “again”.
My boyfriend whined that he had been sitting downstairs alone “ALL DAY”. He wanted me to go sit on the couch with him and watch mindless television instead of taking a nap. I tried to reason with him, asking why it made any difference whether I was sitting on the couch doing nothing or sleeping, because I really don't understand. He doesn't have an answer. It just irritates him when I sleep.
'Jane' wrote on '26:Michelle your bf really needs to be a bit nicer to you. Could your doctor maybe have a word with him about this insomnia affects you? I don't understand why he's being like this. Surely he must know you arn't doing it on purpose?
Did you have a look at that web site addy I gave you? Did you find it any good?
You really have my sympathy you poor love. You sound totally exhausted both physically and mentally. (((((((Michelle)))))))
Thank you so much for the kind note. It really does help.
I have had a discussion with the boyfriend. He wants me to have a sleep study done. I suppose if someone with a medical degree confirms the fact that I can't sleep at night, perhaps that will convince him that I really can't sleep at night? Lol
'BobbyP' wrote on '21:Hi, Michelle. I'm wide awake too — have been trying to settle down for hours, but no luck. I totally, TOTALLY agree with your comment about the worst nights being ones where you have something important coming up the next day, so you're thinking about how you really, really need to sleep. So, of course, you can't.
Years ago I taught my “significant other” guy to never, ever say to me, “Honey, be sure to get a good night's sleep tonight because tomorrow is a big day, you know.” I'd always remind him, “Well, sweetheart, you have now guaranteed that I will get absolutely NO sleep tonight!” So now he knows better. 🙁
So, how to cope with big events coming up?? I still haven't figured that one out. My family is having two major weddings in the coming year, and I know I will be a zombie for both, because I won't get any sleep in the days leading up to each one. I wish that somehow these fun, big events could just suddenly happen, with no warning, and then I'd have gotten plenty of rest the night before. Oh well.
You know, it really sucks that we are all in the same miserable position here, yet it's oddly comforting to know there's a bunch of other people doing what I am doing right now. 🙂
Do your boyfriend or other family members get pissed at you for “being a zombie” at events and catching a nap when you should be doing something productive? That's been one of my biggest struggles since this started. Since he is the sole “breadwinner” and I am a mere domestic engineer, my bf expects a lot from my days. Many times, I'm not able to accomplish everything I'm supposed to be doing. With my children it's even worse. Kids are selfish creatures by nature and obviously have the energy reserve of 10 adults with never ending always recharged batteries. Lol. The comments like, “mommy, please don't be sleeping when I get home from school” and “all you ever do is sleep” among many others really get me down. As much as I struggle to stay awake on an hour or two of sleep my body will eventually give out and I'll have to lie down.
I've tried explaining that what mommy has is not her fault, kinda like when they have the flu and are feeling yucky… But they don't get it. I don't really expect them to. The boyfriend is a different matter. I'm constantly feeling resentful that not only do I not get any sympathy, I'm nagged, belittled and generally made to feel worthless in his eyes if he catches me sleeping at an “inappropriate” time. He says my sleeping during the day has gotten out of control. It's so Stressful. Since I'm completely in love with him and the 3 1/2 years we've invested with each other is not going to crumble over something like this, I can't imagine much will change unless I figure out a way to either start sleeping at night again or find a method to stay awake all day.
Sorry for the venting and rambling. I'm so tired I can't see straight or think. Just needed the bitch feet. Lol. Sorry to stick you on the other end of it! 🙂
'Margaret' wrote on '18:Has anyone else tried turning on some background noise? I started using a space heater this winter on low and the pleasant hum is very soothing. I really think this is part of my improvement as far as my insomnia goes. I have a friend who uses an aquarium motor for this purpose.
Margaret
Absolutely! I've always needed background noise to fall asleep. As a teenager I used music from my stereo. In college, I used our dishwasher. (the dishes were always done!) as an adult, I've used an air conditioner or space heater depending upon the season, a noise machine, and currently the fan. I also require the tv to be on for me to fall asleep, but unfortunately my boyfriend can't sleep with it on, so he's always yelling at me to turn it off… Bedtime has become a source of anxiety for this reason. I'm also not allowed to cough, make any sounds, or move around too much or I will hear it!
Welcome to the group, Cara!
We can all sympathize with you here. I am literally closing one eye as I type this because the three hours of sleep last night just didn't cut it and I'm struggling to keep my eyes open until I've reached a proper bedtime. I'm brand new to the site also and so far everyone has made me feel really accepted and understood. I've already received some useful advice.
Don't be afraid to ask questions and share your story. I'm looking forward to learning more about you.
Michelle
Being sleep deprived during the day is ruining my life.
I wrote a post earlier this evening on the subject hoping to hear how others deal with being so tired during the day. I've found two medications online used to promote wakefulness and usually given to narcolepsy patients. I'd like to find out if anyone has ever taken these medications and benefitted from their use. They are Provigil and Nuvigil
I just looked up the medications I was referring to in the previous post. They are Provigil and Nuvigil.
Has anyone had any experience with either of these “wakefulness promoting” medications?
'Nicole' wrote on '13:Ok so the doxepin didn't work. I am desperate and feeling awful. My psychiatrist prescribed Cymbalta with the hopes that if my depression is treated then the insomnia will go away. The remeron just wasn't cutting it andI haven't been eating in addition to not sleeping. I have finally given in and agreed to 5mg Zyprexa at night to see if this works for the insomnia. Hopefully it will work and if it does hopefully it will just be until the Cymbalta kicks in and helps the depression. I was on effexor in the past and took Trazodone at the same time to help my insomnia and it worked so hopefully the cymbalta will work and I will just need trazadone for sleep. Any positive experiences with Zyprexa?
I tried Zyprexa once years ago for chronic headaches. Even the most minute, lowest dose knocked me out into a coma and I was completely unable to open my eyes the next morning with super severe grogginess all day. So did it work for insomnia? Absolutely. Unfortunately insomnia was not an issue for me at the time, and I stopped taking it after just a few days.
'MarcSFL' wrote on '15:Sorry, I started a topic “Xanax saturated?”, not realizing there was already a forum for it…. but check out my initial post there, I am very familiar with Xanax. I don't recommend using it, because you end up needing more and more to fall asleep; and they say it's dangerous to stop cold turkey, once you're hooked.
Yes, I've replied on the “Xanax saturated” thread as well to talk about my experience with benzos. If either f you would like to contact me personally for more details, please do. I have a lot of knowledge and experience with them.
Michelle
I experience myoclonic jerk almost nightly while trying to fall asleep. It's more like a sensation that I feel like I'm falling and all of a sudden my whole body twitches in one grand motion and I'm jolted awake. Look it up. Is this what you've been feeling?
I've been prescribed benzodiazepines for years now, switching between xanax, klonopin, Valium, & Ativan. Currently I take an Ativan every night before bed and sometimes one or half of one during the day if I'm having particularly bad anxiety. I try to resist the urge to take more than one to fall asleep or to take one in the middle of the night, because just on that small amount I've noticed my body desires it and I have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if I skip that one nightly dose. It's frustrating to HAVE to take them or feel ill, especially since they no longer work to put me to sleep like they used to. I'm not sure if what your doctor says is true with your natural ability to fall asleep returning after a month. I guess you'll kind out soon, right?
