1. < Depression & Anxiety

Insomnia, depression, anxiety

Posted by azkidney57 @azkidney57, Jan 11, 2020

So here I am it’s 4 am I have been awake since 3 am I often wake up. I can’t go back to sleep. I can’t text my friends I could be they would ask why I was texting so early. I tried my usual sleepy time tea, Clonazepam, deep breathing etc etc and I still wake up! I remember when I was I in the hospital I would call the nurse and I would have morphine injected into my IV port and that would help me sleep. I can’t have morphine. OxyContin also made me sleepy. Can’t have that anymore I ran out. It would be so nice if I could get 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Maybe someday.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jan 11, 2020
In reply to @azkidney57 "I am trying everything. I will make my bed room darker and I have a fan..." + (show)
@azkidney57

I am trying everything. I will make my bed room darker and I have a fan for white noise it helps some people. My psychiatrist has a sleep regimen that I am working on. I haven’t started on sleep meds like Seroquel etc because I would like to sleep on my own. I also have a mind I can’t shut off! I am not “at ease” any more. It stems from my cancer diagnosis, my nephrectomy, the scans, scanxiety, the doctor appointments, the “surveillance”, it’s a cycle that will repeat. I realize it happens to others. I didn’t realize so many others have issues with insomnia my psychiatrist told me it’s a big issue! I average 5-6 hours of straight sleep sometimes less,never more. My PCP told me a drugged sleep isn’t a restful one. I told him he probably doesn’t have full time insomnia! My psychiatrist wants me try more natural ways before we go on to drugs. Well at least I am in good company. Thank you Ginger for your input.😊

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@azkidney57 I am lucky to get 2 hours of sleep at a time. Then awake for awhile. Sometimes I go back to sleep for a couple more hours, often, not. This cycle has been for decades, literally. I have found that a weighted blanket, that I "cocoon" myself in to, seems to help a lot. And a cool if not cold room. And, for me, sleeping alone is better, which is not working out well as I got married April 2017. ;((
Ginger

REPLY
1 reply
JK | @contentandwell | Jan 11, 2020
In reply to @gingerw "@azkidney57 I am lucky to get 2 hours of sleep at a time. Then awake for..." + (show)
@gingerw

@azkidney57 I am lucky to get 2 hours of sleep at a time. Then awake for awhile. Sometimes I go back to sleep for a couple more hours, often, not. This cycle has been for decades, literally. I have found that a weighted blanket, that I "cocoon" myself in to, seems to help a lot. And a cool if not cold room. And, for me, sleeping alone is better, which is not working out well as I got married April 2017. ;((
Ginger

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@gingerw. I don’t know what size bed you and your husband share, but it might worth the money to get a K if it will help your marriage! We do fine in a Q but when we go away the hotel room usually has a K. I don’t even know that my husband is there.
JK

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1 reply
Sherman | @shermananski | Jan 12, 2020

You might want to try mindfulness as a strategy to at least deal with an excited mind. I use the Headspace app and there’s a fee. It has midnight SOS meditations. I haven’t had insomnia since I’ve been medicated with antidepressants for the last 10+ years, so I haven’t needed it for sleeping. But, I love listening to the silly bedtime stories at bedtime and the odd times when I do wake up at night and can’t get back to sleep. It does a good job of switching my big old brain off, which feels very relaxing. You can also take a look at this website. They seem to have a ton of material. https://www.mindful.org/a-mindfulness-practice-for-better-sleep/ Good luck. Insomnia was my precursor to deep depression. Praying that you find relief.

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2 replies
rainer | @rainer | Jan 12, 2020

Thank you so much for the link - will give it a go - Glad you found relief and really appreciate your prayers. I did get some sleep last night (at last.) Thank you for mentoring - the encouragement I've received from this Mayo group has made a big difference over the last couple of days. Wish I had found it months ago. : )

REPLY
rainer | @rainer | Jan 12, 2020
In reply to @azkidney57 "I am trying everything. I will make my bed room darker and I have a fan..." + (show)
@azkidney57

I am trying everything. I will make my bed room darker and I have a fan for white noise it helps some people. My psychiatrist has a sleep regimen that I am working on. I haven’t started on sleep meds like Seroquel etc because I would like to sleep on my own. I also have a mind I can’t shut off! I am not “at ease” any more. It stems from my cancer diagnosis, my nephrectomy, the scans, scanxiety, the doctor appointments, the “surveillance”, it’s a cycle that will repeat. I realize it happens to others. I didn’t realize so many others have issues with insomnia my psychiatrist told me it’s a big issue! I average 5-6 hours of straight sleep sometimes less,never more. My PCP told me a drugged sleep isn’t a restful one. I told him he probably doesn’t have full time insomnia! My psychiatrist wants me try more natural ways before we go on to drugs. Well at least I am in good company. Thank you Ginger for your input.😊

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It sounds like you are doing everything and you will find your sleep "sweet spot." I have to agree with your doctors, try to find a natural way before going to drugs. It is a miserable thing trying to get off them. Best of luck!

REPLY
rainer | @rainer | Jan 12, 2020
In reply to @elwooodsdad "I mistakenly advised to place the tongue against the bottom teeth. Dr. Weil instructs the UPPER..." + (show)
@elwooodsdad

I mistakenly advised to place the tongue against the bottom teeth. Dr. Weil instructs the UPPER teeth, and do no more than four sequences at a time. I think the directed breathing and focus redirects the over active mind...but it works for me regardless.

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Thanks - will give it a try : )

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healingone | @healingone | Feb 7, 2020

Have you had a sleep study?

Have you been evaluated by Mayo's pain management department?

REPLY
healingone | @healingone | Feb 9, 2020
In reply to @azkidney57 "I am trying everything. I will make my bed room darker and I have a fan..." + (show)
@azkidney57

I am trying everything. I will make my bed room darker and I have a fan for white noise it helps some people. My psychiatrist has a sleep regimen that I am working on. I haven’t started on sleep meds like Seroquel etc because I would like to sleep on my own. I also have a mind I can’t shut off! I am not “at ease” any more. It stems from my cancer diagnosis, my nephrectomy, the scans, scanxiety, the doctor appointments, the “surveillance”, it’s a cycle that will repeat. I realize it happens to others. I didn’t realize so many others have issues with insomnia my psychiatrist told me it’s a big issue! I average 5-6 hours of straight sleep sometimes less,never more. My PCP told me a drugged sleep isn’t a restful one. I told him he probably doesn’t have full time insomnia! My psychiatrist wants me try more natural ways before we go on to drugs. Well at least I am in good company. Thank you Ginger for your input.😊

Jump to this post

Have you tried listening to guided imagery audios?

REPLY
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Feb 10, 2020

@azkidney57 Checking in with you to see how your insomnia is these days? Do you find the upcoming changes of the seasons affecting your sleep pattern?Any success with the tips members have offered for sleep?
Ginger

REPLY
1 reply
zep | @zep | Apr 25, 2020
In reply to @clover2830 "I am going days without sleeping. Some nights I can get 2-3 hours but every other..." + (show)
@clover2830

I am going days without sleeping. Some nights I can get 2-3 hours but every other night I am up for all hours. I am 32 weeks pregnant. This has been going on for over a month. I can’t nap during the day. I’ve had sleep anxiety before and Xanax helped me get through it. I can’t take anything like that while pregnant and the limited options I do have aren’t working. I feel like my body Is constantly in flight or fight mode. I obsess over sleep which causes the cycle to continue. I can barely function. How can I get over this?

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Kassidy - That sounds dreadful. You have my utmost sympathy. I hope you can get some helpful advice here. Here are some things that might help. Number one, if you're online in the evening, never forget to wear blue-blocker glasses. Go out and sit in the sun early in the day, to set your circadian body clock to be sleepy at night. Take off your glasses if you wear them, so that the daylight can enter your eyes through the pupils and send a message to, I believe, your pituitary.

Try a magnesium supplement; there are many different varieties, so do the research. Exercise, but not too close to bedtime. Make sure your blood sugar is not too low when you turn in. Warm bath. Block out all light in the bedroom. Wear socks to bed so your body doesn't have to struggle to warm up your feet. (that works for me when everything else fails.) Limit TV and news. Stay in close touch with friends and family. I haven't tried this yet, but might - get one of those stuffed animals for infants that plays relaxing music, nature sounds and lullabyes. Then you can pass it down to your new little one. Best of luck to you.

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