Insomnia. What seems to help?

@num1boxer1919: I so understand the trying different anti-depressants and having adverse effects. And, for me, I really got tired of hearing, "well, these (the medicines) work for MOST people" - 'most' being the key word here. Since we aren't 'most' people, that is small comfort isn't it? I agree that being both wired and sick are horrible feelings. Since you've tried several different remedies, I'm wondering who is prescribing them - is it a general practitioner or a mental health specialist? My regular doctor is a wonderful and knowledgeable man, but he also knew when he was operating outside his area of expertise, and so he referred me to someone whose specialty was mental health issues. Also, I've learned that my pharmacist is often my best resource when it comes to trying something new - they often know about a drug's properties to a greater degree than a doctor does, or they understand the interactions with one drug and another. I've often asked them when I start taking something new if it is in the same family or type of drug as others I've tried that didn't work. If so, I know that 1) I need to start out with 1/2 of the dosage recommended by the doctor since many drugs are too strong for me at the outset, and 2) while I don't ask for the pharmacist for advice about what to take, since that is the doctor's job, I do ask them about other drugs that may be in a different category. For example, after trying several anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs, many of which were in the the SSRI's classification, I learned (from the Sleep Center doctor at Mayo) that Wellbutrin was the only one that wouldn't exacerbate my restless leg syndrome. Once I started taking that, my depression and anxiety lessened considerably, and it has now leveled off and manageable. Also, not sleeping creates its own level of anxiety and inability to function, which can be depressing too. I'm wondering if it is possible you are taking some medications that might be interacting with each other, or if you are trying some that are all in the same category or classification. It sounds like you are almost apologetic about feeling stressed, and I don't think you have anything to apologize for - if you are feeling that bad, are not sleeping, feel anxious and depressed, then you do have valid concerns and need to find a partners (doctors, pharmacists, therapists, etc.) who will work with you to find the answers you need. . . and keep trying until together you find something that works. Good luck!

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@num1boxer1919: I so understand the trying different anti-depressants and having adverse effects. And, for me, I really got tired of hearing, "well, these (the medicines) work for MOST people" - 'most' being the key word here. Since we aren't 'most' people, that is small comfort isn't it? I agree that being both wired and sick are horrible feelings. Since you've tried several different remedies, I'm wondering who is prescribing them - is it a general practitioner or a mental health specialist? My regular doctor is a wonderful and knowledgeable man, but he also knew when he was operating outside his area of expertise, and so he referred me to someone whose specialty was mental health issues. Also, I've learned that my pharmacist is often my best resource when it comes to trying something new - they often know about a drug's properties to a greater degree than a doctor does, or they understand the interactions with one drug and another. I've often asked them when I start taking something new if it is in the same family or type of drug as others I've tried that didn't work. If so, I know that 1) I need to start out with 1/2 of the dosage recommended by the doctor since many drugs are too strong for me at the outset, and 2) while I don't ask for the pharmacist for advice about what to take, since that is the doctor's job, I do ask them about other drugs that may be in a different category. For example, after trying several anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs, many of which were in the the SSRI's classification, I learned (from the Sleep Center doctor at Mayo) that Wellbutrin was the only one that wouldn't exacerbate my restless leg syndrome. Once I started taking that, my depression and anxiety lessened considerably, and it has now leveled off and manageable. Also, not sleeping creates its own level of anxiety and inability to function, which can be depressing too. I'm wondering if it is possible you are taking some medications that might be interacting with each other, or if you are trying some that are all in the same category or classification. It sounds like you are almost apologetic about feeling stressed, and I don't think you have anything to apologize for - if you are feeling that bad, are not sleeping, feel anxious and depressed, then you do have valid concerns and need to find a partners (doctors, pharmacists, therapists, etc.) who will work with you to find the answers you need. . . and keep trying until together you find something that works. Good luck!

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Thanks so much! Means so much.. I've been to 2 different psychiatrist, 4 different therapist, a neurologist, & have had like 5 different PCP's.. None of them could or can figure out what's going on with me there just guessing.. I don't know if our doctors in our state are just not very good at figuring out things or I just have somthing that's unknown??.. 1 time I go up there, they think I just have extremely bad stress & anxiety that's why I can't sleep then the next time they think I have bipolar.. really? Nah believe me I've educated myself pretty well on mental health conditions & if I had bipolar wouldnt you think I would have ups & downs yeah that's defiantly not the case.. I'm not depressed I'm frustrated because no one can figure out how to help me sleep right & wake up feeling rested.. & I hardly ever have a good day without a headache all day long if I had bipolar I would be feeling unstoppable sometimes in a state of euphoria which I never have lol.. My sleep is literally agitated all night long it's like trying to sleep in a hot desert with thorns in my brain while sleeping on hay, I'm being dead serious its like the most uncomfortable sleep imagineable, if anyone can tell me what the heck that is please tell me so I can fix it so I don't have to live like this anymore.. Please! Has anyone went through tolerance withdrawal before???? thats literally all I can figure out that it could be from all of my signs & symptoms, but the bad thing about it I can't get off my dang medications cause it just makes my sleep a million times worse.. What the heck? I literally had the best life anyone could ever imagine about 8 or 9yrs ago absolutely nothing wrong with me I was a gym rat stayed in the gym worked out almost everyday, played sports, worked my butt off at work hung out with all my friends loved everyday of my life I was living my best life ever with literally just minor anxiety here & there just like normal people then i had a panic attack so they put me on benzodiazepines I felt amazing for the first maybe 6 months then I needed more because I was having anxiety/agitation/ like literally sweating when leaving work? over absolutely nothing?? Feeling physical symptoms, things I never felt before I ever took the medication then I started having trouble sleeping & it's gotten worse from there then they put me on a low dose of seroquel for sleep about 2 years ago & it help quite a bit then it's lost its effectiveness.. Now what??? I've had things work for my own brain for so long & now I can't relax I can't sleep what does a person do? Its not like I can just put in relaxing music & I sleep good it doesn't work like that my mind never stops & those 2 medications are the only meds I've been on long-term.. I've tried almost every prescribe med out there those are the only 2 classes of medications that work for me.. Everything else makes me wired or has some type of stimulant effect.. So what happens now?? Do I just live with this?? Does anyone out there have what I have? & is it treatable?.. I've had lab-testings done sleep studies everything & nothing has been accomplished.. If I had 1 wish it would be to go back & never take a medication because that's when everything got bad I dont understand?? I thought there suppose to help you? Not hurt you? Sorry again for the long story it's just been a tough tough 8 years & I'm only 29yrs old so most of my 20's have been taken away from me.. Anyone would be upset & frustrated in my shoes.. It sucks not knowing how to get better..

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You're so welcome - it does sound like you have tried EVERYTHING! I am so sorry for you that you have run the gamut of 'experts' and still have no real answers. And, that you are still suffering so much. If it is any comfort, one of the 'experts' I saw also suggested that I might have bi-polar disorder, after she spent one hour with me. I was stunned, since as an alcohol and drug counselor, I knew something about working with that population since addictions often also impact that condition. After consulting my regular mental health psychiatrist, she assured me that I do NOT have bi-polar disorder for the very reasons that you describe. However, I also know that lack of sleep does make us feel irritable, unable to think clearly, depressed, emotional, etc. Those are signs of sleep deprivation and not bi-polar disorder. While I don't profess to be able to diagnose or make decisions about treating bi-polar disorder; I do have knowledge of and access to the DSM IV and also the newer version, the DSM V that lists signs and ymptoms of bi-polar, so I have a bit of information surrounding that issue. When we're feel desperate for sleep, and what you experience at night sounds horrible and tortuous, it is really hard to hear that it is because you're acting like someone who has mental issues.

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Bruce0712 I have not heard of this stimulator. How long have you used it? Any side effects?

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My doctor at the VA let me try it....I was pleasantly surprised as to how quickly and how effectively it seemed to work for me, in terms of how it make me feel good, and no drugs or edibles, just a battery operated stimulus. So that was a trial run and he has ordered one for me, I will get it probably in a few weeks for daily use. There is a little about this on Google. But I won't know how effective it is for actual sleep yet. Wish me luck.

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Thanks so much for the reply.. So do the medications pretty much lose there effectiveness after time & what can I do about that? because when I started on them they worked extremely well but now it's like I'm taking it just to help the symptoms I never had in the first place.. Like I never ever had any sleeping problems before.. & now I can't get to sleep without the medications, & when I do get to sleep I'm waking up all night long & then feeling terrible the next day with all kinds of terrible symptoms & can't relax at all.. Can taking sleep/anxiety meds long-term do that? Sorry for all the questions I'm just trying so hard to figure out a way too get my life back to normal.. I really appreciate all the advice, I actually feel like I have a little hope now lol.. This has been rough especially trying to work a job through all this craziness lol..

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